i; 


i;' 




i 




Book-- yAZ 



THE PHILADELPHIA GRAYS' 



COLLECTION OF 






OmCIAL REPORTS 



BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE CADWALADER'S 



Services during the Campaign of 1847, 



^ 



IN MEXICO. 




PHILADELPHIA: 
T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS, 

1848. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Resolution of the Philadelphia Grays, ..... 5 

Report of the Committee, ... . . . . ib. 

National Bridge — La Hoya, . . . . . . 9 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report, . . . . ib. 

National Bridge, ...... 10 

La Hoya, . . . . . • • .11 

CONTRERAS, . . . . . ■ • ■ }^ 

Extracts from Major-General Scott's Report, No. 31, . . . ib. 

" <' " " " No. 32, . . 16 

" " Brigadier-General Twiggs's Report, . . .18 

«' " " " P. F.Smith's Report, . . 19 

Part of Brigadier-General Smithes testimony before a Court of Inquiry, . 20 

Extracts from Major-General Pillow's Report, . . . 21 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report,* . . . .23 
Part of Brigadier- General Cadwalader's testimony before a Court of Inquiry, 26 

Additional testimony of Brigadier- General Smith before the same court, . 29 

Chdrubusco, . . . . . . . . 31 

Further extracts from Major-General Scott's Report, No. 32^ . . ib. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report,^ .... 33 

Extracts from Major-General Worth's Report, (note.) . . . ib. 

El Molino del Rey, ...... 36 

Extracts from the Report of the Chief of Engineers, and from Major-General 

Scotfs Report, No. 33, . . . • . • • ib. 

Extracts from Major-General Worth's Report, . . . ib. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report, . . . .40 



* General Cadwalader's report of Contreras and Churubusco is a single dis- 
patch, of which the first part is printed on pages 23 to 25, and the residue on 
pages 33 to 35. They were entirely distinct engagements, though the second was 
commenced at a subsequent hour of the same day on which the first was termi- 
nated. 



4 CONTENTS. 

Chapultepec, ........ 44 

Extracts from Major-General Scott's Report, No. 34, . . . ib. 

" " " " Pillow's " . . . . 47 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report,* . . . .51 

San Cosme Gate of the City of Mexico, .... 55 

Further extract from Major-General Scott's Report, No. 34, . . ib. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report,*. . . . . ib. 

Extract from Major-General Worth's Report, . . . .59 

Further extracts from Major-General Scott's Report, No. 34,1 . 60 



* Here also, in the case of Chapultepec and the City Gate, a single report of 
General Cadwalader is divided. The portion relating to Chapultepec is on pages 
51 to 54; the residue of the report relating to the entrance of the city on pages 
55 to 58. 

t A subsequent part of this report, in which General Scott recapitulates the occur- 
rences of the successive victories in the valley of Mexico, is extracted and set forth 
in the Report of the Committee (page 7). 



RESOLUTION. 

At a meeting of the Artillery Corps of Philadelphia Grays, held 
on Tuesday evening, April 25th, 1848, it was unanimously 

Resolved, that a committee be appointed who shall cause to be 
printed, for the private use of the members of this company and their 
friends, the official reports by Brigadier-General George Cadwala- 
DER of the United States Army, of the battles of the National 
Bridge, La Hoya, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Cha- 
PULTEPEC, and the San Cosme Gate of the city of Mexico ; with such 
portions of other official documents, as may assist in exhibiting and 
explaining the part taken by our Captain* in those engagements. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 

The committee appointed under the foregoing resolution, have ful- 
filled their pleasing duty, in printing, from the executive docu- 
ments transmitted to Congress by the Secretary of War in Decem- 
ber and January last, four reports of Brigadier-General Cadwala- 
der, dated respectively July 12th, August 22d, and September 
10th and l8th, 1847, and numerous extracts from reports of the Gene- 
ral-in-chief and other officers, arranged in the manner which the 
committee conceived most suitable to the purpose expressed in the 
resolution of the company. 

The first report of the series relates to the engagement, in June, 
1847, at the National Bridge, and a subsequent skirmish at La Hoya, 

* On the organization of the Phila- battery of six pounders, and offered, as 

delphia Grays, in January, 1832, George their captain, to accompany them to the 

Cadwalader was elected their captain, seat of war. The company Avas not 

He still holds the appointment. At the called into service under this offer. In 

outset of the present war with Mexico, the spring of 1847, he was appointed a 

in 1846, he commanded the Brigade Brigadier-General in the army of the 

composed of the volunteers and enrolled United States. It is the desire of the 

militia of the city of Philadelphia. Dis' company to possess and to preserve an 

regarding considerations of rank, he ten- authentic memorial of his career of ac- 

dered to the President the services of tive service in the successful campaign 

the Philadelphia Grays, with their field which followed. 



b REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 

on both which occasions Brigadier-General Cadwalader was the suc- 
cessful commander of the American forces. If the affair at the Na- 
tional Bridge, compared with many battles of this extraordinary war, 
should also bear the name of a skirmish^ it ought, perhaps, to be re- 
membered that the ease and rapidity of the victory was probably 
attributable to the promptness and decision with which artillery was 
brought to bear, unexpectedly, upon the forces of the enemy by whom 
the passes had been obstructed. The result of the engagement was, 
we believe, the almost entire dispersion of the masses of irregular 
troops, by means of whose frequent attacks and resistance, in favor- 
able positions along the route, the enemy had confidently expected 
to prevent, or materially impede, the progress, from the seaboard, of 
reinforcements of men, money, provisions and ammunition, with- 
out which General Scott could not have advanced from Puebla upon 
the capital.* 



The remaining reports relate to the more important battles in the 
valley of Mexico, in August and September, 1847. In all of these; 

the VILLAGE OF CoNTRERAS OU the 19th, the FORTRESSES OF CoNTRE- 

RAS AND Churubusco ou the 20lh, of August, the Molino del Rey 
on the 8th,CHAPULTEPEc on the 12th and 13th, the city gate on the 
14th, of September, General Cadwalader actively participated. His 
brigade was the second of the third division under Major-General 
Pillow. It is believed that no other brigade in the array was so for- 
tunate as thus to take part in every one of the battles. In two of 
them, General Cadwalader, detached, with his brigade, from its divi- 
sion, rendered useful service in other parts of the field. In conse- 
quence of General Pillow's wound, and the illness of General Pierce, 
he was, on two other important days, and at more than one import- 
ant crisis, in the actual command of the third division of the army.f 

The General-in-chief of the American array, in his concluding re- 
port,! thus recapitulates these successive victories. 

* Major-General Pillow subsequent- If it is correctly reported that the Mexi- 

ly, on the 1st of July, reached Perote, cans, who, after partially succeeding in 

with a small force, without having en- their attack upon Colonel Mcintosh, 

countered any opposition. Brigadier- attempted to dispute General Cadwala- 

General Pierce, who afterwards con- der's passage of the National Bridge, 

ducted his brigade upon the same route, were four thousand strong, their discom- 

and for the safety of whose com- fiture must have been complete, or their 

mand General Scott had expressed great forces would have been rallied and 

anxiety, reported, that though he had concentrated to oppose the advance of 

been five times attacked, he had really General Pillow^ and General Pierce, 
encountered nothing that could be con- f See the Committee's note under 

sidered regular resistance. (Ex. Doc. the head of Chapultepec (posQ. 
No. 1, Report 6 Jan. 1848, page 25.) % Pp. 384-5. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



" Leaving, as we all feared, inadequate garrisons at Vera Cruz, 
" Perote, and Puebla— with much larger hospitals ; and being obliged, 
" most reluctantly, from the same cause (general paucity of numbers) 
"to abandon Jalapa, we marched [August 7-10] from Puebla with 
" only 10 738 rank and file. This number includes the garrison o( 
" Jalapa, and the 2,429 men brought up by Brigadier-General Pierce, 

" At^'contreras, Churubusco, &c., [August 20,] we had but 8,497 
" men engaged— after deducting the garrison of San Augustin, (our 
" general depot,) the intermediate sick and the dead; at the Molinos 
" del Rey (September 8) but three brigades with some cavalry and 
" artillery— making in all 3,251 men— were in the battle ; in the two 
cc days— September 12 and 13— our whole operating force, after de- 
" ducting, again, the recent killed, wounded, and sick, together with 
" the garrison of Mixcoac (the then general depot) and that of Tacu- 
" baya, was but 7,180 ; and, finally, after deducting the new garrison 
" of"Chapultepec, with the killed and wounded of the two days, we 
"took possession (September 14) of this great capital with less than 
" 6 000 men ' And I reassert, upon accumulated and unquestionable 
" evidence, that, in not one of those conflicts, was this army opposed 
" by fewer than three and a half times its numbers— in several ot 
" them, by a yet greater excess. . r at • 

" I recapitulate our losses since we arrived in the basin ot Mexico: 
" August 19, 20.— Killed, 137, including 14 ofl:icers. Wounded, 
"877, including 62 officers. Missing, (probably killed,) 38 rank 
"and'file. To/a/, 1,052. ,irr^ 

" September S.— Killed, 116, including 9 officers. Wounded 66o, 
" including 49 officers. Missing, 18 rank and file. Total, 789. ' 

"September 12, 13, U.~Killed, 130, including 10 officers. 
" Wounded, 703, including 68 officers. Missing, 29 rank and hie. 
" Total, 862. 
.- " Grand total of losses, 2,703, including 383 officers. 

" On the other hand,— this small force has beaten, on the same occa- 
" sions, in view of their capital, the whole Mexican array, of (at the 
" beginnino-) thirty-odd thousand men- posted, always, in chosen po- 
" sitions, b°ehind entrenchments, or more formidable defences of na- 
" ture and art ; killed or wounded, of that number, more than 7,Q00 
"officers and men; taken 3,730 prisoners, one-seventh officers, in- 
" cludino- 13 generals, of whom 3 had been presidents of this repub- 
"lic- caWed more than 20 colors and standards, 75 pieces of ord- 
" nance, besides 57 wall-pieces, 20,000 small arms, an immense 
" quantity of shots, shells, powder, &c., &c. 

" Of that enemy, once so formidable in numbers, appointments, 
" artillery, &c., twenty-odd thousand have disbanded themselves in 
" despair, leaving, as is known, not more than three fragments—the 
" largest, about 2,500— now wandering in different directions, with- 
" out^magazines or a military chest, and living at free quarters upon 
" their own people." 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE. 



It is not the purpose of the committee, in language of their own, 
to detail the part taken by Brigadier-General Cadwalader during these 
occurrences, to recount his achievements, or attest the merit of his 
services. They know that he would not approve of their doing so, — 
even in his absence. This knowledge would suffice to prevent them, 
if the language of the resolution of the company did not impliedly 
prohibit them, from adopting such a course. 

Respectfully submitted, 

JAMES HANNA, ) 

GEORGE W. BRIGGS, } Committee. 
M. HASTINGS, ) 

May 2d, 1848. 



NATIONAL BRIDGE. 

Brigadier- General Cadwalader^s Official Report of the Engagements 
at the JYational Bridge and La Hoya. 

Head-quarters, 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 

Puehla, Mexico, July 12, 1847. 

Sir: — In reply to your letter dated the 11th instant, requesting to 
be furnished with a report of the incidents which occurred on my 
march from Vera Cruz to this place, including combats with the ene- 
my, I respectfully submit the following for the information of the 
general-in-chief. 

On the 7th of June, whilst awaiting at Vera Cruz the arrival of a 
portion of the troops of my brigade, I received a letter, by express, 
from Colonel Mcintosh, dated the 6th June, 11 P.M., at Paso de 
Ovejas, stating that he had been " constantly attacked since 10 A.M., 
" to-day, and that the immense train under the escort of my (his) troops 
" is so extensive, that it is impossible, without a considerable addi- 
" tional force, to guard it and proceed." A copy of the letter is 
herewith enclosed.* 

Immediately, orders were communicated for so many of the troops 
as could be provided with transportation, to be put in marching or- 
der; and early on the morning of the 8th, one company of the 3d 
dragoons, one section of the howitzer battery from the regiment of 
voltigeurs, and a detachment of infantry, in all about five hundred, 
were en route to reinforce the column awaiting support. 

On coming up with Colonel Mcintosh, which was on the 10th of 
June, it was found that we would be unable to proceed without de- 
lay, in consequence of the crippled condition of his train, f while, at 

* Note by the Committee. — See this i Note by the Committee. — The quarter- 
dispatch (Ex. Doc. Sen., No. 1 (2) 13-4). master of the detachment on the 8th of 
In a subsequent report, (ib., p. 4,) Col. June, reported as follows: — "There has 
Mcintosh wrote that it had been noised '' been left on the road, by casualties, 
abroad that the train contained specie and "twenty-four wagons; their contents, 
ammunition, and that before it started, " however, have generally been brought 
" preparations were already reported to " forward. 

be making by the enemy to attack it." " I have not been able to learn from 

By the field report of the detachment for "the conductor of the pack-train the 

the evening of 7th June, (i6., 9-10,) it " amount of his loss; he reports that six 

appears that his aggregate force was less " of his men were killed, and some ran 

than 700 men. In the attack of the 6th " away, abandoning the mules they had 

of June, he lost 19, killed and wounded. " in charge." 



10 NATIONAL BRIDGE. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Report. 

the same time, the scarcity of forage, and the limited supply of pro- 
visions for the troops to Jalapa, rendered it necessary for me to di- 
rect that every effort should be made to put the train in marching 
condition, and for the troops to be in readiness to leave at the earliest 
practicable moment. 

On the following afternoon, the column resumed its march. Be- 
fore leaving Paso de Ovejas, we had reason to believe that the ene- 
my, in considerable numbers,* were occupying the commanding posi- 
tions in our front, at the National Bridge, and were prepared to resist 
us at that point. 

On approaching the bridge, they were found to be in possession of 
the fort on the left of the road, from which they could deliver their 
fire with effect upon the train at several points, from the circuitous 
course of the road in its descent to the bridge, before reaching the 
foot of the ravine. The enemy were also in possession of the heights 
on the opposite side of the bridge, from which point they would have 
a raking fire upon our columns during the passage of the river. 
These heights I found it impracticable to reach, except by crossing 
the bridge. 

The bridge itself was barricaded. Under these circumstances, it 
appeared to be necessary to detach a sufficient infantry force to drive 
the enemy from the fort overhanging the road, before reaching the 
bridge ; and, simultaneously with that movement, to order forward the 
howitzers to breach the barricade, and a company of cavalry, and 
two of infantry, to force the bridge, as soon as a passage was pre- 
pared for them. Lieutenant and Adjutant Henry Prince, of the 4th 
infantry, who had been assigned to command the howitzers, rendered 
rae highly valuable service at this critical moment. He advanced 
with the battery, and succeeded in breaching the barricades, and pre- 
paring the way for our troops to charge, which was done under a 
heavy fire from the enemy. The heights upon the right, after cross- 
ing the bridge, were carried by Captain Pitman's company of the 
9th infantry, and a small detachment from other companies, — under a 
fire from the enemy, — handsomely led by Brevet Captain Hooker, the 
chief of my staff. Having thus gained possession of the points on 
which it was necessary for us to encamp, both on account of water 
and the security of the train, the latter was ordered forward, and 
parked for the night. 

I have to regret the loss of 32 oflicers and men, killed and 
wounded, belonging to the service, with others employed with 
the train, whose names are not known. We have reason to be- 

* Note by the Committee. — The private tion their number as 4000. See ante, 
accounts transmitted for the newspapers p. 6. 
from Vera Cruz to New Orleans, men- 



LA HOYA. 11 

Brigadier-General Cadwaladcr's Report. 

lieve that the enemy suffered severely, although no positive infor- 
mation has been communicated to me with regard to their loss, or 
the numbers engaged.* In consequence of our delay in marching 
from Paso de Ovejas, we were compelled to accomplish a part of our 
work under cover of the night ; and to this I mainly attribute the 
limited loss we sustained. Had those positions been forced by day- 
light, the list of killed and wounded would have been unquestionably 
greatly augmented. 



On the 13th, after sending back the wounded with a suitable escort, 
we proceeded to Plan del Rio, with no other interruption or annoy- 
ance than an occasional discharge of escopettes at small portions of 
our troops and train. The discharges usually proceeded from behind 
dense thickets, almost impracticable for our flankers to penetrate, and 
not unfrequently resulted in the loss of men, horses and mules. 

We passed Cerro Gordo the 14th, having previously taken posses- 
sion of the commanding positions ; and on the 15th reached Jalapa, 
where we were joined by the brigade under Colonel Childs. 



Before leaving that city on the 18th, information reached us that 
the enemy were in force at La Hoya, prepared to resist our advance, 
in a strong position ; and we encamped at the village, before entering 
the pass on the 19th. On approaching it, on the 20th at an early 
hour, our advance found it occupied with a considerable force, appa- 
rently determined to dispute the passage of the train. Four com- 
panies, under Captain Winder, of the 1st artillery, were sent in 
advance, with written instructions to occupy the successive heights in 
the pass. On gaining the mountain on the left, with two companies, 
he reported the enemy to be also in force upon the intermediate height 
that he had already gained, from which only, the other height, which 
commanded the road, could be approached. Major Dimick, with two 
companies, was sent to reinforce him. The approach of this detach- 
ment upon the rear of the enemy was unexpected ; and they were 
driven precipitately from the mountains across the road. Captain 
Winder succeeded in killing four, and taking three prisoners ; and 
three prisoners were taken by Major Dimick. The enemy, falling in 
with a portion of the 1st regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, and Cap- 
tain Walker's company of mounted riflemen, under the command of 
Colonel Wynkoop,f a brisk fire was opened by both parties. The 

* Note by the Committee. — See ante, proach of the infantry, the Mexicans 

p. 6, 10. broke, and I turned the battalion rapidly 

t Note by the Committee. — Extract from so as to cut off their retreat. I followed 

Col. VVynkoop's report. — " Upon the ap- them for several miles, fighting them 



12 LA HOYA. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader's Bcporl. 

advance of the 2d brigade, under Colonel Childs, drove the enemy 
in confusion for more than two miles, they leaving seven or eight dead 
upon the field, several who were wounded having made their escape, 
the enemy admitting a loss of over thirty men. The force of the 
enemy seen by us, was estimated at about seven hundred, although it 
was said to have been much greater. The command encamped that 
night at Rio Frio, and on the 21st reached Perote, at 12 o'clock, M. 

I refer you to the report of Colonel Thomas Childs, in command 
of the 2d brigade of the division under my command, herewith en- 
closed, from whom I received valuable assistance from the time he 
joined me. 

The miserable mustang ponies, by which our train was drawn, 
rendered it difficult, over a mountainous country, to keep the train 
closed up, and to afford proper protection to it in the face of an 
enemy, without attention to the management of the train by the pro- 
per officers, and the assistance of persons of experience and industry. 

At Perote, it became necessary to purchase a number of mules for 
the train ; and on the 23d June, as I was about to march for Puebla, 
I received an order from Major-General Pillow, by express from 
Vera Cruz, directing me not to proceed beyond Perote until his arrival 
at that place. 

On the 1st July, General Pillow arrived at Perote, and assumed 
the command previously to our march to this place. 

Enclosed you will find a return of the killed and wounded during 
the march from Paso de Ovejas to Perote. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEO. CADWALADER, 
Brigadier- General U. S. Army, commanding * 

Capt. H. L. Scott, 
AcVg JissH- Adjutant- General, head-quarters of the army. 

upon every favorable piece of ground * Note by the Committee. — At the date 

upon which they rallied, and killing a of this dispatch, General Cadwalader's 

number. All this time. General Cad- brigade was the first of the division. la 

walader, with Colonel Childs, were the subsequent actions he commanded 

engaged in pursuing them. A most com- the second brigade; the senior Briga- 

plete rout was the consequence. As near dier-General, Pierce, having, in the 

as I can estimate, the loss on the part of mean time, joined the army, 
the enemy was at least 50 men killed; 
among the killed was an officer." 



CONTRERAS. 



On Ihe 7th of August, 1847, the several divisions of the American army, com' 
manded by Major-General Scott, advanced from Puebla, towards the capi- 
tal of the Mexican Republic. The second division, under Brigadier-General 
Twiggs, marched on that day- the fourth division, under Major-General 
Quitman, composed of volunteers, with a battalion of marines, on the follow- 
ing day; the first division, under Brevet Major-General Worth, on the 9th; 
and the third division, composed of regulars of the new regiments, under 
Major-General Pillow, on the 10th of that month. The first brigade of this 
division was commanded by Brigadier-General Pierce, the second by Bri- 
gadier-General Cadwalader. The whole number of otRcers and men was 
less than eleven thousand. General Cadwalader was the junior Brigadier- 
General in the line of the army in that part of Mexico. Brevet Brigadier- 
General Smith, a colonel in the line, had been assigned to the command of 
one ot the brigades of the second division, and was therefore entitled to pre- 
cedence from the date of his brevet commission. 

At Chalco all the divisions of the army were united on the 13th, after which, 
some days were occupied in making examinations of the works of the 
enemy, and of the various routes by which the city mioht be approached. The 
main road leading between the lakes Tezcuco and Chalco was commanded 
by the heights of El Penon, which were found to be fortified so strongly that 
the General- in-chief decided to move round, by a route previously deemed 
impracticable, to the south of Lake Chalco, towards San AgosUn, a fortifica- 
tion on the main route from the city of Mexico to Acapulco. At San Agostin, 
the works were reconnoitered, and were also found too strong to be carried 
without an enormous sacrifice of life. General Scott, therefore, turned his 
attention to a route towards the north, leading over almost impassable rocks 
of lava, in the direction of the village of Contreras. 

In the attempt to gain a position here, "the battle began on the 19th of August, 
the date of the report of General Scott, of which the committee here insert the 
concluding and most important portion. 



REPORT OF GENERAL SCOTT— BATTLE OF CONTRERAS. 

Extract from the Official Report of Major-General Scott, JYo. 31, 
dated "Head-quarters of the Army, San Augustin, Acapulco 
Road, nine miles from Mexico, August 19, 1847." 



By three o'clock this afternoon, the advanced divisions came to a 
point where the new road could only be continued under the direct 



14 CONTRERAS. 

Report of General Scott. 

fire of 22 pieces of the enemy's artillery (raost of them of large 
calibre) placed in a strong entrenched camp to oppose our operations, 
and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides immense bo- 
dies of cavalry and infantry, hourly reinforced from the city, over an 
excellent road beyond the volcanic field, and consequently entirely 
beyond the reach of our cavalry and artillery- 
Arriving on the ground an hour later, I found that Pillow's and 
Twiggs's division had advanced to dislodge the enemy, picking their 
way (all officers on foot) along his front, and extending themselves 
towards the road, from the city and the enemy's left. Captain Ma- 
gruder's field battery, of 12 and 6-pounders, and Lieutenant Callen- 
der's battery of mountain howitzers and rockets, had also, with great 
difficulty, been advanced within range of the entrenched camp. 
These batteries, most gallantly served, suffered much, in the course of 
the afternoon, from the enemy's superior metal. 

The battle, though mostly stationary, continued to rage with great 
violence, until nightfall. Brevet Brigadier-General P. F. Smith's 
and Brevet Colonel Riley's brigades (Twiggs' division), supported 
by Brigadier-Generals Pierce's and Cadwalader's brigades (Pil- 
low's division), were more than three hours under a heavy fire of 
artillery and musketry along the almost impassable ravine in front and 
to the left of the entrenched camp. Besides the 22 pieces of artillery, 
the camp and ravine were defended closely by masses of infantry, 
and these again supported by clouds of cavalry at hand and hovering 
in view. Consequently, no decided impression could be made by 
day-light on the enemy's most formidable position ; because, inde- 
pendent of the difficulty of the ravine, our infantry, unaccompanied 
by cavalry and artillery, could not advance in column without being 
mowed down by the grape and canister of the batteries, nor advance 
in line without being ridden over by the enemy's numerous cavalry. 
All our corps, however, including Magruder's and Callender's last 
batteries, not only maintained the exposed positions early gained, but 
all attempted charges upon them, respectively — particularly on Riley, 
twice closely engaged with cavalry in greatly superior numbers — were 
repulsed and punished. 

From an eminence, soon after arriving near the scene, I observed 
the church and hamlet of Contreras (or Ansalda) on the road leading 
up from the capital, through the entrenched camp, to Magdalena ; and 
seeing, at the same time, the stream of reinforcements advancing, by 
that road, from the city, I ordered (through Major-General Pillow) 
Colonel Morgan, with his regiment, the 15th, till then held in reserve 
by Pillow, to move forward, and to occupy Contreras (or Ansalda) 
— being persuaded, if occupied, it would arrest the enemy's rein- 
forcements, and ultimately decide the battle.* 

*Notebytlie Committee. — This was the Cadwalader held in check the advanc- 
village at which the brigade of General ing army of Santa Anna: (see post.) 



CONTRERAS. 15 

Report of General Scott. 

Riley was already on the enemy's left, in advance of the hamlet. 
A few minutes later, Brigadier General Shields, with his volunteer 
brigade (New York and South Carolina regiments — Quitman's divi- 
sion — ) coming up, under my orders, from San Augustin, I directed 
Shields to follow and to sustain Morgan. These corps, over the 
extreme difficulties of ground — partially covered with a low forest — 
before described, reached Contreras, and found Cadwalader's bri- 
gade in position, observing the formidable movement from the capital, 
and much needing the timely reinforcement. 

It was already dark, and the cold rain had begun to fall in torrents 
upon our unsheltered troops ; for the hamlet, though a strong defen- 
sive position, can hold only the wounded men; and, unfortunately, 
the new regiments have little or nothing to eat in their haversacks. 
Wet, hungry, and without the possibility of sleep, all our gallant 
corps, I learn, are full of confidence, and only wait for the last hour 
of darkness, to gain the positions whence to storm and carry the 
enemy's works. 

Of the seven officers dispatched, since about sundown, from my 
position opposite to the enemy's centre, and on this side of the field 
of rocks and lava, to communicate instructions to the hamlet, not one 
has succeeded in getting through those difficulties, increased by dark- 
ness. They have all returned. But the gallant and indefatigable 
Captain Lee, of the engineers, who has been constantly with the 
operating forces, is just in from Shields, Smith, Cadwalader, &c., 
to report as above, and to ask that a powerful diversion be made 
against the centre of the entrenched camp towards morning. 

Brigadier-General Twiggs, cut off, as above, from the part of his 
division beyond the impracticable ground, and Captain Lee, are 
gone, under my orders, to collect the forces remaining on this side, 
with which to make that diversion, about 5 o'clock in the morning. 

And here I will end this report, commenced at its date; and, in 
another, continue the narrative of the great events which then im- 
pended. 

I have the honor to be, sir, with high respect, your most obedient 
servant, 

WINFIELD SCOTT. 

Hon. Wm. L. Marcv, 

Secretary of War. 



16 CONTRERAS, 



Extracts from the Report of Major- General Scott, JVo. 32, dated 
"Head- QUARTERS of the Army, Tacubaya, at the gates of Mexico 
August 28, 1847." 

Sir: — My report No. 31, comraenced in the night of the 19th in- 
stant, closed the operations of the array with that day. 

The morning of the 20th opened with one of a series of unsur- 
passed achievements, all in view of the capital. * « * * 

In the night of the 19th, Brigadier-Generals Shields, P. F. Smith, 
and Cadwalader, and Colonel Riley, with their brigades, and the 
15th regiment, under Colonel Morgan, detached from Brigadier-Ge- 
neral Pierce, found themselves in and about the important position 
— the village, hamlet, or hacienda, called, indifferently, Contreras, 
Ansalda, San Geronirao, — half a mile nearer to the city than the ene- 
my's entrenched camp, on the same road, towards the factory of 
Magdalena. 

That camp had been, unexpectedly, our formidable point of attack 
the afternoon before, and we had now to take it, without the aid of 
cavalry or artillery, or to throw back our advanced corps upon the 
road from San Augustin to the city, and thence force a passage through 
San Antonio. ****** 

** ***** * 

Shields, the senior officer at the hamlet, having arrived in the 
night, after Smith had arranged with Cadwalader and Riley the 
plan of attack for the morning, delicately waived interference ; but 
reserved to himself the double task of holding the hamlet, with his 
two regiments (South ^Carolina and New York volunteers), against 
ten times his numbers on the side of the city, including the slopes to 
his left, and in case the camp in his rear should be carried, to face 
about, and cut ofT the flying enemy. 

At 3 o'clock, A.M., the great movement commenced on the rear 
of the enemy's camp, Riley leading, followed, successively, by Cad- 
walader's and Smith's brigades, the latter temporarily under the 
orders of Major Dimick, of the 1st artillery — the whole force being 
commanded by Smith, the senior in the general attack, and whose 
arrangements, skill, and gallantry always challenge the highest ad- 
miration. 

The march was rendered tedious by the darkness, rain, and mud; 
but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by Lieutenant Tower, engineer, 
had reached an elevation behind the enemy, whence he precipitated 
his columns; stormed the entrenchments, planted his several colors 
upon them, and carried the work — all in seventeen minutes. 

Conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, engineer, and Lieutenant 
Brooks of Twiggs's staff" — both of whom, like Lieutenant Tower, 
had, in the night, twice reconnoitered the ground — Cadwalader 



CONTRERAS. 17 

Report of General Srolt. 

brought up to the general assault, two of his regiments — the volti- 
guers and the 11th; and at the appointed time, Colonel Ransom, 
with his temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engineer, 
not only made the movement to divert and to distract the enemy, 
but, after crossing the deep ravine in his front, advanced, and 
poured into the works and upon the fugitives, many volleys from 
his destructive musketry. 

In the meantime, Smith's own brigade, under the temporary com- 
mand of Major Dimick, following the movements of Riley and Cad- 
WALADER, discovered, opposite to, and outside of, the works, a long 
line of Mexican cavalry, drawn up as a support. Dimick having at 
the head of the brigade the company of sappers and miners under 
Lieutenant Smith, engineer, who had conducted the march, was or- 
dered by Brigadier-General Smith to form line faced to the enemy ; 
and in a charge against the flank, routed the cavalry. 

Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade, and gallant 
activity, contributed much to the general results. He held masses of 
cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery, in check below him, and 
captured hundreds, with one general (Mendoza), of those who fled 
from above. 

I doubt whether a more brilliant or decisive victory — taking into 
view ground, artificial defences, batteries, and the extreme disparity 
of numbers — without cavalry or artillery on our side — is to be found 
on record. Including all our corps directed against the entrenched 
camp, with Shields's brigade at the hamlet, we positively did not 
number over 4,500 rank and file ; and we knew, by sight, and since, 
more certainly, by many captured documents and letters, that the 
enemy had actually engaged on the spot, 7,000 men, with at least 
12,000 more hovering within sight, and striking distance — both on 
the 19th and 20th. All, not killed or captured, now fled with pre- 
cipitation. 

Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved; one road to 
the capital opened ; 700 of the enemy killed ; 813 prisoners, includ- 
ing, among 88 officers, 4 generals; besides many colors and stand- 
ards ; 22 pieces of brass ordnance — half of large calibre ; — thousands 
of small arms and accoutrements ; an immense quantity of shot, shells, 
powder and cartridges ; 700 pack mules, many horses, &c. &c. — all 

in our hands. 

******* 

The battle being won before the advancing brigades of Worth's 
and Quitman's divisions were in sight, both were ordered back to 
their late positions — Worth, to attack San Antonio in front, with 
his whole force, as soon as approached in the rear by Pillow's and 
Twiggs's division — moving from Contreras, through San Angel and 
Coyoacan. By carrying San Antonio, we knew that we should open 
another, a shorter and better, road to the capital, for our siege and 
other trains. 



18 CONTRERAS. 

Report of General Scott. 

Accordingly, the two advanced divisions and Shields's brigade 
marched from Contreras, under the immediate orders of Major- 
General Pillow, who was now joined by the gallant Brigadier-Gene- 
ral Pierce of his division, personally thrown out of activity, late 
the evening before, by a severe hurt received from the fall of his 
horse. 

After giving necessary orders on the field, in the midst of prisoners 
and trophies, and sending instructions to Harney's brigade of cavalry, 
left at San Augustin, to join me, I personally followed Pillow's com- 
mand. 

Arriving atCoyoacan, — two miles, by a cross road, from the rear of 
San Antonio, — I first detached Captain Lee, engineers, with Captain 
Kearney's troop, 1st dragoons, supported by the rifle regiment, under 
Major Loring, to reconnoitre that strong point; and next dispatched 
Major-General Pillow, with one of his brigades, (Cadwalader's,) 
to make the attack upon it, in concert with Major-General Worth on 
the opposite side. se * * * * 



REPORT OF GENERAL TWIGGS. 

Extract from the Official Report of General Twiggs, dated " Head- 
quarters, 2d Division of Regulars, Sa7i Angel, near Mexico, 

August 23d, 1847." 

******* 

General Smith's brigade was ordered to proceed in the direction 
of our batteries, and Riley's, by inclining to the right, to get a posi- 
tion, if possible, in the enemy's rear. The route he was compelled 
to take was most diflicult and tedious, passing over volcanic rocks 
and crossing large fissures barely narrow enough to permit the men 
to get over by leaping. Accompanied by Lieutenant Tower, of the 
engineers, this brigade finally reached the main road, and got in posi- 
tion in rear of the enemy's position, having driven before it a large 
body of lancers, who attempted to check its progress. Having be- 
come separated by seven or eight hundred yards from any reinforce- 
ment, a large body of the enemy (ten or twelve thousand) was dis- 
covered coming from the direction of the city, and closing on Riley's 
rear. At the same time, from the field-work at Contreras, came out 
two or three thousand men on the road which the brigade had crossed, 
entirely cutting oflf Riley's from Smith's brigade. Notwithstanding 
the very great disparity in numbers in favor of the enemy, this fine 
brigade kept its ground, occasionally driving from its vicinity, with 
loss, bodies of the enemy who had rashness enough to approach within 
musket range. 

During this state of affairs, Smith's brigade was ordered to form a 



CONTRKRAS. 19 

Report of General Twiggs. 

junction with Riley's, whilst General Pierce's brigade occupied the 
left of the trail, and remained as a support to the batteries. Much 
credit is due to Col. Ransom, by whose untiring exertions and zeal 
the 9th and 12th infantry were placed in position near the batteries 
late in the night of the 19th. Late in the evening, the two brigades 
joined near the road — Riley having manoeuvered, in the face of the 
enemy, so as to join Smith's. Still later, Shields's and Cadwalader's 
brigades formed a junction with my division, then under the imme- 
diate command of Gen. Smith. I, being unable, from a lame foot, to 
follow the route taken by my troops, returned to the vicinity of Tay- 
lor's battery, where I passed the night. General Smith made his 
arrangements to attack the enemy's work the next morning. 

For the particulars of this affair I would respectfully refer the general- 
in-chief to the reports of Gen. Smith and Col. Riley, to whom and to 
the other officers engaged, is due all the credit that attaches. I was 
unable, for the reason given above, to come up to my division till the 
affair was over, and the road opened for my horse. 



REPORT OF GENERAL SMITH. 

Extracts from the. Report of Brevet Brigadier- General Persifor F. 
Smith, dated " Head- quarters, 1st Brig. 2d Division of Regu- 
lars, San Angel, near Mexico, August 23, 1847." 

******* 

Accounts from Mexican officers, intercepted since the battle, in- 
form us that there were seven thousand in and about Contreras, {the 
entrenched camp,) commanded by General Valencia, and upwards 
of twelve thousand in front of Encelda, (or the hamlet of Contreras,) 
in reserve, commanded by General Santa Anna. We killed seven 
hundred, and took fifteen hundred prisoners, among them several gene- 
rals. We captured 22 pieces of brass ordnance, viz : four Spanish 16- 
pounders, four 8-inch howitzers, two 5|-inch howitzers, six 6-pound- 
ers, and 6 smaller pieces, with a large amount of shells and other ammu- 
nition. We also took 700 pack mules and many horses, and an im- 
mense number of small arms, which we destroyed. After directing 
the prisoners and property to be collected, I directed the pursuit to 
be continued, and was forming the column when General Twiggs 
arrived. He immediately ordered the most vigorous pursuit, and we 
moved forwards. As we approached San Angel, the rifles were 
again thrown forward as skirmishers, and entered the town at the heels 
of the enemy's lancers, capturing an ammunition wagon. Here 
General Pillow assumed command, and at Coyoacan the commander- 
in-chief came up. 



20 



CONTHEKAS. 



Report of General Smilh. 

The troops, in the actions in the pedregal, on the afternoon of the 
19th, and at Contreras and Churubusco on the 20th, distinguished 
themselves far beyond my capacity to do them justice. The diffi- 
culties they overcame, supposed by the enemy to be insuperable, the 
hardships they endured, and the fatigue they suffered, contrasted with 
the manner in which they did their work, raises their character as 
soldiers highly towards perfection. 



Brigadier General Cadwalader (in the morning) brought his corps 
up from his intricate bivouac in good order, formed the head of his 
column to support Riley's, and led it forward in the most gallant 
style under the fire directed at the latter. 



NOTE, 



The Committee here insert the fol- 
lowing passage from a later account of 
this engagement, given by Brigadier- 
General Smith, as a witness before a 
Court of Inquiry, in the city of Mexico, 
on the 4th of April, 1848. It applies 
to the crisis at which the enemy's en- 
trenchments were swept by the assault 
of the morning of the 20lh of August. 

Evidence of Brigadier-General P. F. 
Smith. 

" Just as Riley's column was formed 
*' for attack, cavalry were seen moving 
" out from Valencia's position, up to- 
'' wards the mountains. As they might, 
" in that way, attack Riley on his right 
'' flank, and as it was no longer neces- 
'* sary to pay any attention to Santa An- 
" na's force, I directed that 'Cadwala- 
" der's brigade should also form in two 



''columns — one to move on Riley's 
" right flank and rear, and the other on 
" his left flank. This order was com- 
"municaled to the senior officer, who 
" marched with the two first regiments 
'' of Cadwalader ; and just at this mo- 
" ment Cadwalader came up with the 
'' other two ; and immediately the at- 
" tack commenced. 

''Seeing that there was no necessity 
'' for reserving any troops to meet the 
" force under Santa Anna, Dimick was 
" ordered to face to the left, and advance 
" in line, across the ravine, against Va- 
" lencia's entrenchments; at the same 
" time (I forgot to mention that) the 
" engineer company and Rifles were 
" thrown upon Riley's left and front, 
" under the brow of the hill, to clear 
" his front of the enemy's skirmishers. 
" The whole of the enemy's works and 
" position were carried at one sweepP 



CONTRERAS. 21 



REPORT OF GENERAL PILLOW. 

Extracts from the. Report of Major- General Pillow, dated *' Head- 
quarters, Third Division, Mixcoac, August 24, 1847." 

******* 

Colonel Riley's command, having now crossed the vast broken-up 
plain of lava, passing the village on the right, and whilst in the act 
of turning the enemy's left, was confronted by several thousand lanc- 
ers, who advanced to the charge ; when a well-directed fire from the 
brigade, twice compelled them to fall back in disorder, under cover 
of their artillery. About this time, Brigadier-General Cadwalader's 
command had also crossed the plain, when some 5,000 or 6,000 
troops of the enemy were observed moving rapidly from the direction 
of the capital to the field of action. Colonel Morgan, with his large 
and fine regiment, which I had caused to be detached from the rear 
of Pierce's brigade, was now ordered to the support of Cadwalader, 
by direction of the general-in-chief, who had now arrived upon the 
field. This general, having discovered this large force moving upon 
his right flank, and to the rear, with decided military tact and prompti- 
tude, threw back his right wing, and confronted the enemy, with the 
intention to give him battle, notwithstanding his overwhelming 
force.* This portion of the enemy's force moved steadily forward 
until a conflict seemed inevitable, when Col, Morgan's regiment, 
having reached this part of the field, presented a front so formidable, 
as to induce the enemy to change his purpose, and draw oflT to the 
right and rear of his former position. 

During all this time, the battle raged fiercely between the other por- 
tions of the two armies, with a constant and destructive fire of artil- 
lery. Magruder's battery, from its prominent position, was much 
disabled by the heavy shot of the enemy, as were also Callender's 
howitzers. A part of the enemy's artillery had been turned upon Ri- 
ley's command, whilst actively engaged with large bodies of lancers : 
but even these combined attacks could only delay the purpose of the 
gallant old veteran and his noble brigade. 

* Note hy the Committee. — Extract from ''lions. Fortunately, however, General 

the Report of Lieutenant- Colonel Gra- ''Cadwalader's brigade (my regiment 

/i«m, commanding llth Infantry. " leading), arrived on the opposite emi- 

" So soon as the head of our column " nance to that occupied by the enemy, 

'•' arrived on the plain, the enemy were "who were in force from 6 to 7.000 

" seen advancing towards us in great " men, and took position in a corn-field, 

" force from the direction of the city, " in order to secure our men, as far as 

" whose evident design was either to " possible, from the enemy's view 

" attack us in the rear, or else to rein- ^' This unexpected movement upon our 

" force their numbers in the fortifica- " part entirely frustrated their designs." 



22 CONTRERAS. 

Report of General Pillow. 

The general-in-chief having arrived upon the field, with General 
Shields's brigade of volunteers — consisting of the New York and 
South Carolina regiments — ordered them to move up to the support 
of the forces under Brigadier-General Cadvvalader; but it had now 
grown so late in the evening, that General Shields did not get into 
position until after dark. 



[After describing the storming of Contreras, on the morning of 
the 20thj the report proceeds as follows : — ] 



The retreating enemy was compelled to pass through a severe fire, 
both from the assaulting forces and Cadwalader's brigade, as well 
as Shields's command, who had remained at the position occupied 
by the former general the previous night, with the purpose of cover- 
ing the movement upon the battery. The forces of the enemy en- 
gaged at this place, including the reinforcements of the preceding 
evening, constituted a force of about 16,000 men, 5,000 of whom 
were cavalry; the whole were under the immediate command of 
General Santa Anna in person, assisted by Generals Valencia, Salas, 
Blanco, Mendoza, Garcia, and others; the last four mentioned were 

taken prisoners. 

* * ***** 

Brigadier-General Smith, the senior officer, who remained across 
the plain and disposed the forces for the final assault, deserves, and 
will doubtless receive, the thanks of the array, and the honor due 
to the constancy of purpose and daring which distinguished his con- 
duct on this great occasion. 

Brigadier-General Cadwalader displayed great judgment and high 
military skill and heroic courage, in the manner in which he met the 
sudden and trying emergency, when all parties were in great anxiety 
for the safety of his comparatively small command, when about to be 
assailed by the overwhelming reinforcements of the enemy, on the 
preceding evening;* and also, in the manner in which he brought up 
his command to the support of the gallant Riley. 



* Note by the Committee. — See, on the manner in which General Cadwalader 
last page, General Pillow's notice of the confronted the enemy at this crisis. 



CONTRERAS. 



23 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL CAD- 
WALADER. 

Head-quarters, 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 

MixcoaCj Mexico, August 22, 1847. 

Sir: In obedience to orders from division head-quarters, I have 
the honor to report that, on the morning of the l8th instant, the 
]lth regiment of infantry, under the command of Lieutenant Colo- 
nel Graham, attached to my brigade, was detached with two com- 
panies of dragoons, under the command of Captain Kearny, for the 
purpose of covering a reconnoissance to be made near San Augustin 
by Captain Lee, of the engineer corps. After proceeding about three 
miles, a heavy discharge of musketry was suddenly opened upon the 
column, by a party of the enemy from the front and flank. A charge 
from the dragoons and infantry efTectualiy routed and dispersed the 
enemy, with some loss in killed and wounded, and the capture of 
five prisoners. After the engineer officer had completed his obser- 
vations, the column returned to the head-quarters of the brigade at 
San Augustin. 

On the 19th, my brigade, consisting of the voltigeur regiment under 
the command of Colonel T. P. Andrews, to which is attached the 
rocket and howitzer battery, under the command of Lieutenant F, D. 
Callender, of the ordnance; the 11th regiment of infantry, under the 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. M. Graham ; and the 14th 
infantry, under the command of Colonel William Trousdale, took up 
the line of march from the village of San Augustin; being the ad- 
vanced brigade of the 3d division, which had been ordered towards 
the position of the enemy at Contreras. Having received orders to 
that effect, I threw forward the 11th regiment, under Lieutenant Colo- 
nel Graham, to occupy the road, when within sight of the advanced 
position of the enemy; at the same time extending the voltigeurs, 
under Colonel Andrews, and the 14th, under Colonel Trousdale, up 
the side of the hill, which was on our right; the howitzer and rocket 
battery being placed near the summit to command the road. 

In this position, the brigade remained until the arrival of Twiggs's 
division, which moved forward and attacked the position of the enemy 
in front; when, by the orders of Major-General Pillow, I followed 
in support of Riley's brigade, which was on its way towards the left 
of the entrenched camp of the enemy. After a difficult march over 
a bed of lava rock, and passing two deep ravines and creeks, we 
came upon the road leading from Contreras to the city of Mexico. 
As my advance arrived at this point, a very large fijrce of the enemy 
— cavalry, artillery, and infantry — was observed coming up the road 
from the city, and approaching along the brow of the hills in our 
front — to repel which, I made immediate dispositions of my command, 
by taking advantage of favorable ground for forming ray line of bat- 



24 CONTRRRAS. 

Report of General Cadwalader. 

tie, hastening up the remaining regiments for that purpose — the enemy 
numbering at least six times the force of my command.* A volley 
from three companies of the 11th regiment drove back a body of 
cavalry supporting a reconnoitering party ; and the enemy perceiving 
our preparation, halted, and subsequently joined a very considerable 
force which was observed advancing on the right of the road. 

Colonel Riley's brigade having turned to the left, at the village of 
Contreras or Encelda, I deemed it proper to take a stronger position, 
and accordingly moved ray command to the crest of the hill upon 
which the village is situated. Not long after this, I was joined by 
the 15th regiment, under Colonel Morgan — which regiment had been 
temporarily detached from the 1st brigade and pla(;ed under my 
ordersf — and, subsequently, Brigadier-General P. F. Smith arrived 
with his command. The movement of my brigade, in conjunction 
with that of Colonel Riley, caused the enemy to halt in our front, 
(towards the city.) Their intention, evidently, was to reinforce the 
command in the works near Contreras. Although exposed to the fire 
of the enemy's artillery, both in front and from their fortified position 
in our rear, we effectually resisted any such attempt. 



The brigade remained in this place, exposed to a heavy rain, with- 
out shelter, until about three o'clock on the morning of the 20th, 
when it was ordered forward, with the^other troops sent for that pur- 
pose, under the command of Brigadier-General P. F. Smith, to as- 
sault the w^orks and camp of the enemy. After leaving the village, 
and gaining sufficient ground to the left and rear of the enemy's 
camp, a general assault took place, which resulted in the capture of 

* Note by the Committee. — See page was at a halt, with the battery playing 

21, text and note; and page 22. upon its rear,, and an immense force of 

f Note by the Committee. — Extract from infantry and dragoons drawn up in its 
the official report of Lieut. Col. Howard, front. In crossing a deep ravine which 
commanding this regiment. — '^ When interposed between General Cadw^l- 
the enemy's batteries opened upon us, ader's position and the regiment, the 
and the division moved forward on it, enemy threatened an attack upon our 
the loth regiment was held in reserve, front while separated from the rear, but 
where it remained until directed by Colonel Morgan promptly placed the 
General Pillow to move to the sup- front of his regiment in position to de- 
port of General Cadwalader's brigade, fend itself, and cover that portion of it 
which had passed to the right of the yet to cross the ravine. The enemy, 
battery about three-quarters of a mile, upon discovering this, abandoned the 
The regiment very rapidly marched for attempt and fell back upon the main 
its position, and soon gained the rear of force." 
General Cauwalader's brigade, which 



CONTRERAS. 



25 



Report of General Cadwalader. 

their works, containing twenty-three pieces of artillery of various ca- 
libre, and a large quantity of ammunition. Here we had the pleasure 
of finding the two six-pounder guns captured by the enemy at Buena 
Vista, now recaptured by the 4th artillery, who had lost them in that 
action.* The enemy fled in every direction, closely pursued by our 
troops, leaving a great number dead and wounded upon the field, the 
ground strewed with their arms, lances, and flags, and in our hands, 
upwards of a thousand prisoners, and a very large train of pack mules. 
In this brilliant exploit, the voltigeurs and 11th regiment bore a 
conspicuous part. The 14th and 15th regiments, from their position 
in rear, were unable, with every exertion on their parts, to join in the 
immediate attack; but, by their support, materially assisted in the 
success of our arms on this occasion. 

The capture of this fort, commanding the road, opened our com- 
munication with the maiu body of the army, and our field artillery. 



[This report of Brigadier-General Cadwalader will be resumed from this point, 
under the head of Churubusco, where it will be concluded. To carry out 
the views of the Resolution of the Company, the Committee think it best 
thus to divide it; closing the present extract at the end of the operations 
connected with the village and entrenched camp of Contreras.] 



* Nofe by the Committee. — In the lan- 
guage of General Scott, lost without dis- 
honor, and recovered with glo)-y. Captain 
Hiiger, acting Chief of Ordnance, in a 
subsequent report of operations in front 
of El Molino del Rey, (Ex. Doc, 1 
(1), 375,) states, that "never were 
" pieces served with better judgment 
" and effect" than were these recaptured 



guns, on the 8th of September, in the 
attack upon that fortress. 

Particular details of the use there 
made of them, are contained in the re- 
port of Captain Drum, of the 4th artil- 
lery — afterwards killed — under whose 
immediate orders they were served (i6., 
(2), 154). 



NOTE. 



From the testimony subsequently giv- 
en by Brigadier General Cadwalader, 
as a witness before a Court of Inquiry 
in the city of Mexico, the Committee 
here append those questions and an- 
swers which apply particularly to the 
transactions at and near Contreras. 
The Court appear to have recognized 



the testimony of the witnesses as mat- 
ter which should not be withheld from 
public knowlege during the pendency 
of the proceedings. The Committee, 
therefore, do not conceive that any rule 
of propriety or delicacy is infringed, in 
making use of the report in the news- 
paper in which the examinations have. 



26 



CONTRERAS. 



Note. 



from time to time, been published. 
They have, therefore, already (p. 20) 
inserted a portion of the testimony of 
General Smith. 

In answer to the inquiries of others, 
General Cadvvalader, as a witness, was 
necessarily required to mention things 
which it might have been, to some ex- 
tent, inappropriate to have stated in his 
own official dispatches. 



Testimony of Brigadier- General Cadwala- 
der, 1 April, 1848. 

Question. — Witness will state if he 
was not in the battle of Contreras, in 
command of a brigade, and what orders 
he received from Gen. Pillow on the 
19th of August, before engaged in that 
battle? 

Answer. — I was in that battle, and re- 
ceived an order from Gen. Pillow to 
proceed with my brigade in the direc- 
tion, and to the support, of Col. Riley, 
who was then crossing the pedregal. 
I received instructions to follow Col. 
Riley. 

Qncstimi. — Were the orders of battle 
and the orders given to the different 
commanders of brigades explained to 
you at the time you received the orders 
above referred to from Gen. Pillow ? 

Answer. — I had been with Gen. Pil- 
low from the commencement of the 
battle ; I heard, I believe, all the orders 
given. I understood that from the im- 
practicability of the ground in front of 
Valencia's camp, and finding it impos- 
sible to gel a rear or Hank position when 
I was sent to his support, I presumed 
it was to do the best I could, from the 
instructions previously received. I 
don't recollect receiving any further 
special instructions. It had been de- 



termined by Col. Riley to make a de- 
monstration upon the flank or rear 
of the enemy. 

Question. — Did witness understand 
that the movement in sending Riley 
and himself to the rear was to make a 
demonstration or an attack upon the 
rear of the enemy? 

Answer. — I think that the order was 
to do either that might seem best. I 
considered myself at liberty either to 
make a demonstration or an attack. I 
was not ordered to make an attack, or 
not to make one. It was a very im- 
portant object to gain the position * I 
considered my instructions to take a 
position either in the flank or rear of 
the enemy, and to make an attack or 
not, as circumstances might dictate. It 
did not appear to be the object of the 
instructions to limit my discretion in 
that respect. 

Question. — Did the witness know that 
Smith's brigade had attacked the ene- 
my in front, that Riley had moved to 
turn the enemy's left and gain his rear; 
and did he understand that he was or- 
dered to support Col. Riley in that 
movement; and did he derive this un- 
derstanding from Gen. Pillow's instruc- 
tions? Say also if General Pillow di- 
rected him to take the church as a guide 
in crossing the pedregal. 

Answer. — Yes. I know also that 
Riley was instructed to support him by 
Gen. Pillow's order. I don't recollect 
having received instructions to take the 
church as a guide in crossing the pe- 
dregal. 

Question. — Were you also instructed 
to cut off any reinforcements which 
might make their appearance on your 
right? 

Answer. — I don't remember that I 



* See p. 14, and General Smith's testimony, post, p. 29. 



CONTRERAS. 



27 



Note. 



was. 1 certainly would have considered 
it a point of duty to do so.* 

Question. — State whether, from what 
you saw of the movennents of the dif- 
ferent corps on the field on the 19th, 
and from your instruction from Gen. 
Pillow, you understood that the plan of 
attack was to assault the enemy in front 
and rear at the same time. 

Answer. — The attack had already 
been made in front, and it was manifest 
that the attack from the front would be 
kept up, and that an attack would be 
made in the rear and flank, and I con- 
sidered that it was obviously the inten- 
tion of the general that that should be 
the case if found to be practicable. 

Question. — State what steps or move- 
ments, in execution of this plan of attack, 
were taken on the 19th of August; and 
whether, under those orders, Col. Riley 
gained the enemy's rear, and your com- 
mand had taken possession of the vil- 
lage of Ansalda. 

Answer. — The attack was made in 
front; Col. Riley moved round to the 
enemy's left; and I followed him; he 
passed through the village; and I, ob- 
serving the large force under Santa 
Anna coming out from the right to the 
village from San Angel, saw the pro- 
priety of holding the village instead of 
following Col. Riley; which I did, — de- 
pending upon Col. Riley to come up 
and support me the moment the attack 
commenced, which I supposed would 
be immediate, as it was; Col. Riley, 
however, moved on through the village, 
and was masked from my view. My 



Anna, which never advanced beyond 
my position.! 

Question. — Had the troops, by occu- 
pying the village in rear of, or on the 
flank of, Valencia's camp, on the 1 9th 
of August, seized the only direct com- 
munication of the enemy to and from 
the capital, and must or must not, in 
your opinion, the secure holding of 
these positions have decided the day in 
favor of the American forces? 

Answer. — The position was one which 
the troops from the city must neces- 
sarily have passed, or made a long cir- 
cuit near the mountains; it also kept 
open the communication with our own 
troops, and was therefore an important 
one.f 

Question.— What time did Gen. Smith 
arrive at the village? Was it before or 
after you took possession of it? 

Answer. — About an hour after I had 
been in position, and Santa Anna's 
forces had been checked. Gen. Smith 
arrived about half an hour before dark. 
Capt. Lee was there, and was proposing 
an attack ; there was a|fconversation as 
to whether it was possible to take troops 
over the ground. Night set in, how- 
ever, and put an end to it. 

Question. — What time did Gen. 
Shields's brigade arrive at the village of 
Ensalda ? Was it after dark ; if so, how 
long after? 

Answer. — I never saw them^ and 
don't know, e.xcept that it was late at 
night. It was a dark night, and rain- 
ing. 

Question. — State if, in your opinion, 



force held in check the force of Santa the possession of that village did not, 

* General Cadwalader was recalled on a subsequent day; and having, in the mean- 
time, refreshed his memory by a reference to his written memoranda, deposed that 
General Pillow had referred to a previous order to Col. Riley, as to intercepting rein- 
forcements, which order the witness was to follow. 

t See p. 24. 

t See General Scott's Report, p. 14., ante. 

§ The diagram of the field shows the relative position of the two Brigades. See 
General Smith's testimony, post, p. 29. 



28 



CONTRERAS. 



Note. 



by cutting off the enemy's reinforce- 
ments, render it almost certain that the 
renewed assault, as soon as daylight 
would admit of it, upon the entrenched 
camp, must prove successful? 

Answer. — Yes. 

Question. — What, in your opinion, 
prevented the plan of attack, to whieh 
you have already referred, from being 
carried into effect on the 19th? Was it 
the near approach of night or the large 
reinforcements of the enemy ? 

Answer. — The large reinforcements 
of the enemy fully occupied my com- 
mand, and prevented any other move- 
ment until after dark. We maintained 
the same position for an hour and a 
half, to impede the advance of the 
enemy. I have ho doubt if Santa Anna's 
force had not come out, I would have 
joined Col. Riley, and the movement 
spoken of would have been made. The 
attack upon Valencia's camp would have 
been made that afternoon by myself and 
Col. Eiley, whether Gen. Smith had 
come up or not. Santa A nna's force, how- 
ever, fully occiified me. I was anxious 
to avail myself of the handsome com- 
mand Col. Riley had, together with my 
own. From what 1 saw of Valencia's 
camp, afterwards, I have no doubt the 
attack would have been successful. The 
same force carried the work by assault 
the next morning. 

Question. — Have you reason to be- 
lieve that no additional means were 
thrown into Valencia's camp after you 
seized the village before mentioned, or 
not— and what were they, if you chance 
to know? If not, did your presence 
prevent it? 

Answer. — I have no reason to think 
that any additional reinforcements were 
thrown into Valencia's camp after I had 
taken possession of the village. I be- 
lieve that the two brigades, Riley's and 
mine, would have been sufficient to 



carry the work, though I am confident 
that the force which made the diversion 
or attack aided materially in carrying 
the work. 

Question. — Where were the reinforce- 
ments of the enemy on the morning of 
the 20th of August, when Gen. Smith's 
attack was made upon the entrenched 
camp? 

Answer. — We moved out before it 
was day, from the village, to the attack ; 
and did not see them; we supposed 
they were on the hill where we saw 
them the night before. We moved off 
under the supposition that we were 
making a secret movement, and would 
attack Valencia's camp unknown to 
Santa Anna. It was universally believed, 
since, that Santa Anna withdrew some, if 
not all, his force to San Angel, that night. 

Question. — Was there a conference of 
officers, during the night of the 19th, at 
the village of Ensalda, or other place, 
at which Col. Riley was present? What 
was the result of that conference, and 
was it then and there determined upon 
to make the attack the next morning ? 
And was the plan of attack the original 
view of any officer of that conference? 

Answer. — Not that I know of; there 
was a conversation between Gen. Smith, 
Capt. Lee and myself (Col. Riley not 
being present), which resulted in a 
message from Gen. Smith to Gen. Scott; 
this was about dark; it was too late to 
attack Santa Anna; and as we stood 
upon the ground Capt. Lee left us with 
the message to Gen. Scott ; I considered 
the attack as the result of the train of 
events that had preceded: I would [add] 
that Gen. Smith had decided upon at- 
tacking Santa Anna's forces, but the 
darkness prevented it; that had there 
been half an hour more of light. Gen. 
Smith's command and my own would 
have made the attack. Gen. Smith had 
given the order to that effect. 



CONTRERAS. 



29 



Note. 



Qncsiion. — What was the plan of at- 
tack finally agreed upon on the even- 
ing of 19th; and was it the sanne as that 
agreed upon at that conference? 

Answer. — It was. 

[The witness having been afterwards 
recalled, the following among other 
questions and answers appear in the 
report of his testimony-] 

Question. — Were Santa Anna's rein- 
forcements checked by your command 
before Gen. Smith reached Ensaldo? 

Answer. — They were entirely so, and 
had been so for half an hour. 

Question. — Had you, previously to the 
arrival of Gen. Smith, made your dis- 
positions to receive Santa Anna; and 
was any change in those dispositions 
made after the arrival of Gen. Smith? 

Answer. — I had established my com- 
mand in position, to resist the forces un- 
der Santa Anna; and no change in that 
position took place until Col. Morgan's 
regiment reinforced me, when I moved 
my command a sufficient distance round 
the village to give him a position on the 
line which I defended ; and I do not 
recollect subsequently having changed 
that position — certainly not materially — 
having occupied the wall and maguey 
bushes surrounding the exterior of the 
village — the 11th and voltigeur regi- 
ments facing the north, and the 14th and 
15th regiments facing in the direction of 
San Angel. The wall spoken of was a 
very low one. 

Question. — If Santa Anna's forces had 
not been checked by your command, 
would they not have reached the vil- 
lage, and prevented Gen. Smith from 
reaching it? 

Ansicer. — They certainly would have 
done so, if Col. Riley, who was further 
advanced than I was, had not checked 
them. If this had not been done, Santa 
Anna would have passed into the vil- 
5 



lage. Col. Riley was on the other side 
of the village. 

[In addition to these answers of Gene- 
ral Cadwalader, the committee insert 
the following portions of the testimony 
afterwards given before the same court 
by Brigadier-General Smith, a portion 
of whose evidence has been already 
inserted in a note at the close of his 
official report, (ante p. 20.)] 

Evidence of Brigadier-General Persifor 
Frazer Smith. 

Question. — When you arrived at the 
villages of Ansaldo and Geronimo on 
the 19th August, did you find Col. Riley 
and Gen. Cadwalader in possession of 
those villages, and had the former al- 
ready repulsed a large cavalry force ; 
and the latter checked a large Mexican 
force under Santa Anna? 

Answer. — I found Gen. Cadwalader in 
possession of the village. I could not 
find Col. Riley; it appears he had gone 
through it, and had moved further up, to- 
wards Valencia's position. I learned in 
regard to the cavalry, from Col. Riley, 
that he had repulsed a large body of the 
enemy's cavalry, and killed Gen. Fron- 
tera, at the upper end of the village, to- 
wards Valencia, and finding the enemy 
too strong, was, as he reported to me, 
on his way back to the pedregal, not 
knowing there were other troops over. 
I conceive that taking possession of the 
village was an important movement. It 
did not interpose any obstacle as the 
road was open yet; though jt did not 
prevent his joining Valencia, it had such 
influence upon Santa Anna as to prevent 
his throwing himself into Valencia's 
camp, lest our army should be inter- 
posed between him and the capital. 
Holding the village ought to have so 
influenced Santa Anna as to prevent him 
from throwing himself outside of the vil- 



30 



CONTRERAS. 



Note. 



lage, in respect to the capital. I found 
Gen. Cadwalader already in possession 
of the right flank of the village, fronting 
what was Santa Anna's then front. 

Question. — Had the force under Santa 
Anna been brought to a stand before you 
got to the village? 

Answer. — Yes, sir, formed perpen- 
dicularly to the road before I reached it, 
and then moved around parallel to it, 
after I got there. 

•U. .^^ tU. •U. 4C< 

^ 'K- "TV- •f^ "TV- 

Question. — As you regard the posses- 
sion of the village as a key to the ope- 
rations of the 20th, will the witness say 
whether he does not regard its posses- 
sion on the 19th as ensuring the success 



of the operations on the morning of 
the 20th? 

Answer. — The whole operation on the 
20th was based upon the possession of 
the village. The whole plan of at- 
tack on the 20th was formed after the 
possession of the village was secured, 
and was founded upon that; but the 
proper attack, in my opinion, was on 
Santa Anna, as was intended the 
evening before; that is the proper at- 
tack for one being in the situation I was 
in. The attack on Valencia was deter- 
mined upon merely as an alternative; 
because the night offered me the means 
of reaching his position with certainty, 
and the darkness had prevented us tak- 
ina; the first. 



CHURUBUSCO. 



REPORT OF GENERAL SCOTT. 

Further Extracts from the Account of the Battles of the 20th of 
August, contained in the Repoi't of the General-in- chief JVb. 32, of 
which jmrtions have been inserted under the head of Contreras* 



General Scott, after describing the operations of General Worth in "the forcing 
of San Antonio," " the secorid brilliant event of the day," proceeds as follows 
to recount the events of Churubusco. 



Worth's division being soon reunited in hot pursuit, he was 
joined by Major-General Pillow, who, marching from Coyoacan and 
discovering that San Antonio had been carried, immediately turned 
to the left, according to my instructions, and, though much impeded 
by ditches and swamps, hastened to the attack of Churubusco. 

The hamlet or scattered houses bearing this name, presented, be- 
sides the fortified convent, a strong field work {tete du pont) with re- 
gular bastions and curtains, at the head of a bridge over which the 
road passes from San Antonio to the capital. 

The whole remaining forces of Mexico — some 27,000 men — caval- 
ry, artillery and infantry, collected from every quarter — were now in, 
on the flanks, or within supporting distance of, those works, and 
seemed resolved to make a last and desperate stand; for, if beaten 
here, the feebler defences at the gates of the city — four miles oflf — could 
not, as was well known to both parties, delay the victors an hour. 
The capital of an ancient empire, now of a great republic, or an early 
peace, the assailants were resolved to win. Not an American — and 
we were less than a third of the enemy's numbers — had a doubt as to 
the result. 

The fortified church or convent, hotly pressed by Twiggs, had 

* Pp. 16—18. 



32 CIIURUBUSCO. 

Report of General Srolt. 

already held out about an hour, when Worth and Pillow — the latter 
having with him Cadwalader's brigade — began to manoeuvre closely 
upon the tete du pont, with the convent at half gun-shot to their left. 
Garland's brigade, (Worth's division,) to which had been added the 
light battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, continued to advance 
in front, and under the fire, of a long line of infantry, off on the left of 
the bridge; and Clarke, of the same division, directed his brigade 
along the road or close by its side. Two of Pillow's and Cadwala- 
der's regiments, the 11th and 14th, supported and participated in 
this direct movement; the other (the voltigeurs) was left in reserve. 
Most of these corps — particularly Clarke's brigade — advancing per- 
pendicularly, — were made to suffer much by the fire of the tete du pont, 
and they would have suffered greatly more by flank attacks from the 
convent, but for the pressure of Twiggs on the other side of that 
work. 

This well-combined and daring movement at length reached the 
principal point of attack ; and the formidable tete du pont wdiS at once 
assaulted, and carried by the bayonet. Its deep wet ditch was first 
gallantly crossed by the 8th and 5th infantry, commanded, respectively, 
by Major Waite, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott — followed closely by 
the 6th infantry (same brigade), which had been so much exposed on 
the road — the 11th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, and 
the 14th, commanded by Colonel Trousdale, both of Cadwalader's 
brigade. Pillow's division. About the same time, the enemy in front 
of Garland, after a hot conflict of an hour and a half, gave way, in a 
retreat towards the capital. 

The immediate results of this third signal triumph of the day were, 
three field-pieces, one hundred and ninety-two prisoners, much am- 
munition, and two colors taken at the tete du pont. 

Lieutenant J. F. Irons, 1st artillery, aid-de-camp to Brigadier-Ge- 
neral Cadwalader, a young officer of great merit, and conspicuous 
in battle on several previous occasions, received, in front of the work, 
a mortal wound. (Since dead.)* 

******* 

So terminated the series of events which I have but feebly pre- 
sented. My thanks were freely poured out on the different fields — 
to the abilities and science of generals and other officers — to the gal- 
lantry and prowess of all — the rank and file included. But a reward 
infinitely higher — the applause of a grateful country and government 
— will, I cannot doubt, be accorded, in due time, to so much merit, 
of every sort, displayed by this glorious army, which has now over- 
come all difficulties — distance, climate, ground, fortifications, num- 
bers. 

It has, in a single day, in many battles, as often, defeated 32,000 

* Note by the Committee — See post, p. 34. 



CHURUBUSCO. 33 

Report of General Cadwalader. 

men ; made about 3,000 prisoners, including eight generals, (two of 
them ex-presidents,) and 205 other officers; killed or wounded 4,000 
of all ranks — besides entire corps dispersed and dissolved ; captured 
37 pieces of ordnance — more than trebling our siege train and field 
batteries — with a large number of small arms, a full supply of am- 
munition of every kind, &c. &c. 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL CADWALADER. 



[This is the continuation of the dispatch, of which the previous portions, end- 
ing on page 25, terminated with the capture of Contreras. The report pro- 
ceeds as follows: — ] 



After leaving a sufficient force to secure the captured camp and 
property, we took up the line of march in the direction of the city of 
Mexico, now in full view. After proceeding about two miles, I re- 
ceived an order to turn to the right, on the road from San Angel to 
San Antonio, to assist in the attack upon that place, to be made by 
General Worth's division, from the other side of the road. I had 
not proceeded far, when I found that General Worth's division had 
driven the enemy from San Antonio. 

The division under General Twiggs having encountered the main 
force of the enemy at Churubusco, in a strongly fortified position 
upon which General Worth's division was also advancing, I was 
ordered to cross over to the other road, about half a mile distant, to 
unite in the attack upon the main work. Under the direction of Ma- 
jor-General Pillow, I crossed my command over two deep and wide 
ditches, under fire of the enemy's artillery; I myself, as well as the 
other mounted officers, having been compelled to dismount from our 
horses to wade through the ditches.* After a long and severe action, 

* Note by the Committee. — Extracts from * # * # 

the Report of Brevet Major- General "The division commander cannot 

Worth, commanding the First Division. " forego the opportunity presented to 

" I was joined by Major-General Pil- '■ acknowledge his obligations, and ex- 

'' LOW, who came in from the left with ''press his admiration of the gallant 

" three regiments of his division — Cad- " bearing of Major-General Pillow, and 

" walader's brigade — having, with " Brigadier-Generals Shields, Cadwal- 

'' great difficulty, made his way through " ader, and Pierce, with whom he had 

"the marshes; thence to the close of "the gratification of concert and co- 

" the day, I had the pleasure of his gal- " operation, at various critical periods of 

" lant association and assistance." (See " the conflict." 
p. 31.) 



34 CHURUBUSCO. 

Report of General Cadwalade): 

the works were carried, and with it, all the artillery and ammunition 
of the enemy, and the command joined in the general pursuit and 
rout. 

I refer you to the separate reports herewith enclosed of the com- 
manding officers of regiments, for particulars connected with their 
immediate commands. 

Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Johnston, of the regiment of voltigeurs, 
brought the regiment well into action at the attack on the works 
at Contreras ; and the regiment is spoken of in high terms by Colo- 
nel Andrews. The officers generally of this regiment are entitled 
to be named with consideration. Lieutenant F. D. Callender, com- 
manding the rocket and howitzer battery, was wounded in three 
places while gallantly engaged with the enemy, and the command 
subsequently devolved upon Lieutenant J. L. Reno, who rendered 
valuable service himself on various occasions after the command 
devolved upon him ; and who spoke highly of the conduct of Ser- 
geants Peate, Depew, and McGuire. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. M. Graham, in command of the 11th 
regiment, never lost a moment in pressing gallantly forward wherever 
service was to be performed, which his command always responded 
to with alacrity. In his report, he notices with commendation the 
services of Major J. F. Hunter, Captains Irwin, Waddell, and Guthrie, 
of Lieutenants Daniel S. Lee, (adjutant,) Montz, McCoy, Evans, 
Harley, McClellan, Tippin, Scott, and Johnstone. 

The 14th regiment, under the command of Colonel W. Trousdale, 
rendered efficient service, and is highly spoken of in the report of 
its commanding officer, to which I beg leave to refer. 

I lament to say that my aid-de-camp. First Lieutenant J. F. Irons, 
of the 1st artillery, was dangerously, probably mortally, wounded,* 
by a grape shot through the neck, when gallantly approaching the 
battery upon the road at Churubusco, This officer, distinguished 
on other fields, rendered me and my command valuable assistance. 
His services and gallant conduct will never be forgotten by me, or 
by those with whom he served, and to whom he is known. 

Captain George Deas, assistant adjutant-general, on duty upon my 
personal staff, is entitled to be particularly noticed for gallantry, 
energy, and soldier-like bearing, in the discharge of his duties. 

I take much pleasure in expressing my general satisfaction at the 
good conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, 
under my command, who, on many occasions, performed gallant ser- 
vice, which it is impossible for me to notice here. 

* Note by Committee. — See ante. p. 32. shot from an 18 pounder. His horse was 
He was mortally wounded by a grape at the same time shot by another ball. 



CHURUBUSCO. 35 

Report of General Cadwalarkr. 

Enclosed is a list of the killed, wounded, and missing, of ray 
brigade. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEORGE CADWALADER, 
Brigadier- General United States Jlrmy, commanding. 
To Captain J Hooker, 

Assistant Adjutant- General, Head-quarters, 3rf Division. 



EL MOLINO DEL KEY. 



Extract from Major Smith's Report, dated 26th Sept., 1847, " Of the operations 
'' of the Engineer Service, from the 7th instant, after the rupture of the armis- 
" tice," and termination of the negotiations for peace. 

'' The general-in-chief, having received information from reliable sources, that 
'' most of the bells in the city of Mexico had been sent to the foundry near 
'' Chapultepec, called El Molino de los Reyes, to be converted into can- 
'' non, and that tliese cannon, when available, would be the main reliance of 
" the enemy for artillery, determined to destroy this foundry, together with 
" the cannon, and machinery for boring and finishing them, which it might 
" contain, and assigned General Worth's division to the performance of this 
" service. The attack upon the foundry was to be made on the morning of 
'' the 8th instant." 



ITie Report of this Engagement by Major-Gcneral Scott, No. 33, dated " He.4.d-quar- 
TERS OF THE Army, Tacubaya, near Mexico, Sept. 11, 1847," states the reasons 
for, and the plan of, the attack decided upon ; " the execution of which," he 
states, " was assigned to Brevet Major-General Worth, whose division was 
" reinforced with Cadwalader's brigade of Pillow's division, three squadrons 
" of dragoons under Major Sumner, and some heavy guns of the siege train 
" under Captain Huger of the ordnance, and Captain Drum of the 4th artil- 
'^ery." 

The General-in-chief adds, " For the decisive and brilliant results, T beg to refer 
" to the report of the immediate commander, Major-General Worth, in 
" whose commendations of the gallant officers and men — dead and living — 
" I heartily concur; having witnessed, but with little interference, their noble 
" devotion to fame and to country." 



GENERAL WORTH'S REPORT. 

Extracts from the Report of Brevet Major- General Worth, dated 
Head-Quarters, 1st Division, Tacubaya, September 10, 1847. 

Sir — Under the inconvenient circumstances incident to recent bat- 
tle, and derangement from loss of commanders — staff, commissioned 
and non-commissioned, and amid the active scenes resulting therefrom, 
I proceed to make a report, in obedience to the orders of the general- 



MOLINO DEL REY. 37 

Report of General Worth. 

in-chief, of the battle of El Molino del Rey, fought and won on (he 
eighth of September, 1847, by the first division, reinforced as fol- 
lows : 

1st. Three squadrons of dragoons, and one company of mounted 
riflemen — 270 men, under Major Sumner, 2d dragoons. 

2d. Three pieces of field artillery, under Captain Drum. 

3d. Two battering guns, (twenty-four pounders,) under Captain 
Huger. 

4th. Cadw^alader's brigade, 784 strong, consisting of the volti- 
geur regiment, the 11th and 14th regiments of infantry. 

Having, in the course of the 7th, accompanied the general-in-chief 
on a reconnoissance of the formidable dispositions of the enemy near 
and around the castle of Chapultepec, they were found to exhibit an 
extended line of cavalry and infantry, sustained by a field battery of 
four guns — occupying directly, or sustaining, a system of defences 
collateral to the castle and summit. This examination gave fair ob- 
servation of the configuration of the grounds, and the extent of the 
enemy's force; but, as appeared in the sequel, an inadequate idea 
of the nature of his defences — they being skillfully masked. 

The general-in-chief ordered that my division, reinforced as before 
mentioned, should attack and carry those lines and defences, capture 
the enemy's artillery, destroy the machinery and material supposed to 
be in the foundry, (El Molino del Rey;) but limiting the operations 
to that extent : after which, my command was to be immediately 

withdrawn to its position, in the village of Tacubaya. 

******* 

As the enemy's system of defence was connected with the hill and 
castle of Chapultepec, and as my operations were limited to a specific 
object, it became necessary to isolate the work to be accomplished, 
from the castle of Chapultepec and its immediate defences. To eflTect 

this object, the following dispositions were ordered. 

******* 

Cadwalader's brigade was held in reserve, in a position on the 
ridge, between the battering guns and Mcintosh's brigade, and in 

easy support of either. 

******* 

The enemy's field battery was taken, and his own guns were trailed 
upon his retreating masses ; before, however, they could be discharged, 
perceiving that he had been dispossessed of his strong position by 
comparatively a handful of men, he made a desperate efllbrt to regain 
it. Accordingly, his retiring forces rallied and formed with this ob- 
ject. Aided by the infantry, which covered the housetops, (within 
reach of which the battery had been moved during the night,) the 
enemy's whole line opened upon the assaulting party a terrific fire of 
musketry, which struck down eleven out of the fourteen officers that 
composed the command, and non-commissioned officers and men in 
6 



66 MOLINO DEL KEY. 

Report of General Worlh. 

proportion; including, amongst the officers, Brevet Major Wright, 
the commander ; Captain Mason and Lieutenant Foster, engineers ; 
all severely wounded. This severe shock staggered, for a moment, 
that gallant band. The light battalion, held to cover Captain Huger's 
battery, under Captain E. Kirby Smith, (Lieutenant-Colonel Smith 
being sick,) and the right wing of Cadwalader's brigade, were 
promptly ordered forward to support; which order was executed in 
the most gallant style ; the enemy was again routed, and this point 
of his line carried, and fully possessed by our troops. In the mean- 
time. Garland's (1st) brigade, ably sustained by Captain Drum's artil- 
lery, assaulted the enemy's left; and, after an obstinate and very se- 
vere contest, drove him from his apparently impregnable position, 
immediately under the guns of the castle of Chapultepec. Drum's 
section, and the battering guns under Captain Huger, advanced to the 
enemy's position; and the captured guns of the enemy were now 
opened on his retreating forces, on which they continued to fire until 
beyond their reach. While this work was in progress of accomplish- 
ment by our centre and right, our troops on the left were not idle. 
Duncan's battery opened on the right of the enemy's line, up to this 
time engaged ; and the 2d brigade, under Colonel Mcintosh, was now 
ordered to assault the extreme right of the enemy's line. The direc- 
tion of this brigade soon caused it to mask Duncan's battery — the fire 
of which, for the moment, was discontinued ; and the brigade moved 
steadily on to the assault of Casa Mata, which, instead of an ordinary 
field entrenchment, as was supposed, proved to be a strong stone 
citadel, surrounded with bastioned entrenchments, and impassable 
ditches — an old Spanish work, recently repaired and enlarged. When 
within easy musket range, the enemy opened a most deadly fire upon 
our advancing troops, which was kept up, without intermission, until 
our gallant men reached the very slope of the parapet of the work 
that surrounded the citadel. By this time, a large proportion of the 
command was either killed or wounded, amongst whom were the 
three senior officers present — Brevet Colonel Mcintosh, Brevet Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Scott, of the 5th infantry, and Major Waite, 8th in- 
fantry ; the second killed, and the first and last desperately wounded. 
Still, the fire from the citadel was unabated. In this crisis of the at- 
tack, the command was, momentarily, thrown into disorder, and fell 
back on the left of Duncan's battery, where they rallied. As the 2d 
brigade moved to the assault, a very large cavalry and infantry force 
was discovered, approaching rapidly upon our left flank, to reinforce 
the enemy's right. As soon as Duncan's battery was masked, as be- 
fore mentioned, supported by Andrews's voltigeurs, of Cadwalader's 
brigade, it moved promptly to the extreme left of our line, to check 
the threatened assault on this point. The enemy's cavalry came ra- 
pidly within canister range, when the whole battery opened a most 
eflfective fire, which soon broke the squadrons, and drove them back 
in disorder. During this fire upon the enemy's cavalry, Major Sum- 



MOLINO DEL REV. 39 

Report of General Worth. 

ner's command moved to the front, and changed direction in admira- 
ble order, under a most appalling fire from the Casa Mata. This 
movement enabled his command to cross the ravine immediately on 
the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing noble service, 
until the close of the action. At the very moment the cavalry were 
driven beyond reach, our own troops drew back from before the Casa 
Mata, and enabled the guns of Duncan's battery to reopen upon this 
position; which, after a short and well-directed fire, the enemy 
abandoned. The guns of the battery were now turned upon his 
retreating columns, and continued to play upon them until beyond 
reach. 

He was now driven from every point in the field; and his strong 
lines, which had certainly been defended well, were in our possession. 
In fulfilment of the instructions of the general-in-chief, the Casa Mata 
was blown up, and such of the captured ammunition as was useless 
to us, as well as the cannon moulds found in El Molino del Rey, were 
destroyed. After which, my command, under the reiterated orders 
of the general-in-chief, returned to quarters at Tacubaya, with three 
of the enemy's four guns, (the fourth, having been spiked, w'as ren- 
dered unserviceable,) as also a large quantity of small arms, with 
gun and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight hundred prisoners, 
including fifty-two commissioned officers. 

By the concurrent testimony of prisoners, the enemy's force ex- 
ceeded fourteen thousand men, commanded by General Santa Anna 
in person. His total loss, killed, (including the 2d and 3d in com- 
mand, Generals Valdarez and Leon,) wounded and prisoners, 
amounts to three thousand, exclusive of some two thousand who de- 
deserted after the rout. 

My command, reinforced as before stated, only reached three thou- 
sand one hundred men of all arms. The contest continued two hours; 
and its severity is painfully attested by our heavy loss* of officers, non- 
commissioned officers and privates, including, in the first two classes, 
some of the brightest ornaments of the service. 



I desire to bring to the notice of the general-in-chief, the gallantry 
and good conduct of Brigadier-General Cadwalader and his com- 
mand, by which the most timely and essential service was rendered, 
in supporting the attack, and following up the success. Such move- 
ments as he was directed to make, were executed with zeal and 
promptness. 



* Note by the Committee. — 789 killed, wounded aad missing. See p. 7. 



40 MOLINO DEL RKY. 



OFFICIAL REPORT* OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL CAD- 

WALADER. 

Head-Quarters, 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 

JVavarte, Mexico, September 10, 1847. 

Sir — In compliance with orders received on the 7th instant, I 
marched my brigade, consisting of the voUigeur regiment, under 
Colonel Andrews, the 11th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Gra- 
ham, and the 14th regiment, under Colonel Trousdale, from its en- 
campment at Mixcoac to Tacubaya, and reported to Major-General 
Worth for further orders on the same evening, preparatory to the 
attack and destruction of the foundry of the enemy at Molino del 
Rey, under the fortress of Chapultepec. 

Before day-light on the morning of the 8th instant, I placed my 
command on the plain, on the west side of the works of the enemy, 
in the position indicated in the order, number 95, of Major-General 
Worth; supporting the heavy battery of Captain Huger on my right, 
and the field battery of Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan on my left; hold- 
ing my command in compact order, to support either of the three 
attacking columns, or any point which the circumstances might re- 
quire. 

The attack was commenced at day-light upon the enemy's positions, 
by the infantry of the 1st division — my command having been, from 
the commencement of the attack, within the range of the heavy fire 
of the enemy, from which it suffered severely. 

A large body of the enemy's cavalry appearing on our left, I de- 
tached the regiment of voltigeursf two or three hundred yards in that 
direction, along a ravine which covered that flank of the army. Major 
Sumner, at the same time, crossed the ravine with his cavalry. By 
these movements, and an occasional shot from the field battery, the 
enemy's cavalry was driven out of reach. Two companies of the 
voltigeur regiment, commanded by Lieutenants Fry and Kintzing, 
were then detached, under Major Caldwell, to intercept a retreating 
party of the enemy — a corresponding movement being made by Ma- 
jor Sumner — and the party of the enemy killed or taken. The regi- 
ment of voltigeursf was subsequently moved to the right in support 

* Note hy the Committee. — This report Col. Andrews, commanding the volti- 

is addressed to the Adjutant-General of geurs. — "The regiment of voltigeurs 

the 1st division — General Worth's, — to under my command, * * * * at 4 

which General Cadwalader's brigade o'clock on the morning of the 8th, mov- 

had been attached during the whole of ed forward with the other regiments of 

this engagement. General Cadwalader's brigade to sup- 

t Note. — The committee here insert port General Worth's operations, 

the following extracts from the report of ''At day -break, we were in the position 



MOLTNO DEL REY. 



41 



Report of General Cadwalader. 

of Colonel Garland's brigade, and aided in defeating the enemy's last 
efl'ort near the foundry at Molino del Rey. 

A party of the enemy's cavalry, on our left, was driven ofT by Cap- 
tain Blair's company, of the voltigeur regiment, detached for that 
purpose under Major Caldwell's directions. 

Captain Edwards's company was detached, with the field-piece cap- 
tured on the road near the foundry, to the one-gun battery in the road 
to Chapultepec, where the piece was actively served by that company. 
The gun and ammunition were taken to this position, as well as with- 
drawn, by the men, no limber being found with the piece, and was 



assigned us, supporting tiie heavy bat- 
tery, (Captain Huger's,) where we re- 
mained until the advance of the infantry 
of the 1st division to attack the enemy's 
positions, at which time General Cad- 
walader ordered forward his brigade to 
support these attacks, again selecting the 
voltigeur regiment, and detaching them 
to the left for the important duty of pro- 
tecting Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's bat- 
tery. In the first position taken for this 
purpose, the regiment remained under 
a very heavy fire, from which it suf- 
fered severely, about fifteen minutes. 

" A large body of the enemy's cavalry 
then appearing on our left, the regiment 
was marched under a heavy and con- 
tinuous fire of musketry, two or three 
hundred yards in that direction ; and took 
posiUon along the ravine which covered 
that flank of the army. Major Sumner, 
at the same time, crossed the ravine whh 
his cavalry. By these movements, and 
an occasional shot from the battery, the 
enemy's cavalry was driven out of 
reach. The 1st and 2d companies of 
my regiment, commanded respectively 
by Lieutenants Fry and Kintzing, were 
then detached, under Major Caldwell, 
to intercept a retreating party of the 
enemy, a corresponding movement 
being made by Major Sumner, and the 
party in question killed or taken. 

" The enemy's right being now driven 
from that part of the field, we were or- 



dered to move to the right to join Colo- 
nel Garland's brigade; and marching 
under a direct fire of round shot from 
the enemy's battery at Chapultepec, we 
arrived in time to aid in defeating the 
enemy's last effort near the foundry. 
The regiment reiriained in position, on 
Colonel Garland's left, by his order, until 
the withdrawal of the troops. 

"A party ofthe enemy'scavalry, which 
appeared on our left, was driven off by 
the third company, commanded by 
Captain Blair, detached for that purpose 
under Major Cald well's direcfions. The 
8th company (Captain Edwards's) was 
detached, with the field-piece captured 
on the road near the foundry, to the one- 
gun battery in the road to Chapultepei^, 
to which a party of our infantry ad- 
vanced, where the piece was served by 
Captain Edwards's company until the 
party was ordered in by Colonel Gar- 
land, preparatory to his being relieved 
in his position by Colonel Ransom. The 
gun and ammunition were taken to this 
position, as well as withdrawn, by the 
men — no limber being found with the 
piece — and was taken from the field 
by another company (Captain Biddle's) 
of the regiment. After leaving the 
vicinity of the foundry, the regi- 
ment remained near the field, to pro- 
tect the wagons employed in bringing 
off the wounded ; that being done, it 
returned to Mixcoac and encamped." 



42 



MOLINO DEL RKY. 



Report of General Cadwalader. 

subsequently taken from the field by Captain Biddle's company of the 
same regiment. 

The attack was commenced at day-light upon the enemy's position, 
by the infantry of the 1st division. It soon after became necessary to 
support the centre, which I did, by advancing, in two columns, the 
11th regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, on the right, and 
the voltigeur regiment, under Colonel Andrews, on the lelt. The 
enemy being in great force, in a very strong position, behind stone 
walls difficult to attack, well defended with artillery, and with con- 
tinuous lines of infantry, resisted, for a time, the assault; but were com- 
pelled to give place to our troops, who ultimately occupied the whole 
line of their positions which defended the foundry, captured their bat- 
teries and a large quantity of ammunition, turning their own guns 
upon them, and driving them back into the fortress of Chapultepec, 
securing also a large quantity of grain and flour in the mill. 

This result was greatly hastened by the efficient use of three pieces 
of field artillery, which were brought forward by Lieutenants Harley, 
McClelland and Scott, by order of Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, under 
a heavy fire from the enemy. A portion of the 11th regiment gained 
an entrance into the lower end of a building on the right, occupied 
by the enemy, where several Mexican officers surrendered, the com- 
manding officer delivering his sword to Lieutenant Scott of the 11th 
regiment. In the mean time. Lieutenant R. H. Johnson, command- 
ing company E, was killed by a musket ball, while most gallantly 
leading on his men. Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, although badly 
wounded in two places, and Lieutenants McCoy and Harley, and a 
portion of their command, pursued the enemy to the left; and, while 
leading an assault on a large and strongly fortified building still in the 
possession of the enemy, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham received two 
mortal wounds, of which he died in a few minutes, upon the field he 
had so gallantly assisted to win. Captain Irwin, although severely 
wounded, remained in command of his company as long as it was 
engaged ; and Captain Guthrie was disabled by severe wounds. 

Soon after the action commenced, four companies of the 14th regi- 
ment were also detached, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel 
P. 0. Hebert, to support the assaulting party upon Molino del Rev. 
A captured piece of artillery was fired, under the direction of Captain 
Glenn of that regiment, who was placed in charge of the same by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Hebert, until the ammunition was exhausted. 
Four moulds for casting cannon, found inside the building, were 
destroyed by Captains Hoffman and Lovell, of the 6th infantry. A 
number of muskets, and some ammunition, were also destroyed. 

The remainder of the 14th regiment, under the command of Colo- 
nel Trousdale, remained upon the field to support the artillery, during 
which time they were also exposed to the fire of the enemy from both 
cannon and musketry. In addition to the officers already named, I 
would particularly mention the services and gallantry of Lieutenant- 



MOLINO DEL RKY. 43 

Report of General Cadwalader. 

Colonel Johnston, Majors Caldwell and Talcott, of the voltigeur regi- 
ment, the latter of whom was wounded early in the action, but re- 
mained on the field during the day, and also Lieutenant-Colonel He- 
bert, of the 14th regiment. Captain Charles J. Biddle, of the voltigeur 
regiment, severely sick, left his bed at Mixcoac, when the firing 
began, and joined his company. Assistant-Surgeon Samuel D. 
Scott, of the 11th regiment, was active in his attention to the wounded 
on Ihe field. 

Assistant Adjutant-General George Deas, on duty upon my staff, 
was much exposed during the action; and by industry, coolness, and 
gallantry, rendered valuable service. 

I forward herewith enclosed the separate reports of commanding 
officers of regiments, and also a return of the killed, wounded, and 
missing, on the occasion. 

I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEO. CADWALADER, 
Brig.- Gen. U. S. A. Comd'g. 

To Captain W. W. Mackall, 

Acting Adj. -Gen. \st Div., U. S. A. 



CHAPULTEPEC. 



GENERAL SCOTT'S REPORT OF THE STORMING OF 
CHAPULTEPEC. 



Extracts from the Report of Major- General Scott, JYo. 34, dated 
" Head-quarters of the Army, JYational Palace of Mexico, Sept. 
18, 1847. 



[After stating that " the victory of the 8th at the Molinos del Rey 
" was followed by" reconnoissances " directed principally to the 
" south — towards the gates of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino Per- 
" dido,) San Antonio, and the Paseo de la Viga ;" the report pro- 
ceeds thus :] 



This city* stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of 
an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch in its greater extent 
— a navigable canal of great breadth and depth — very difficult to 
bridge in the presence of an enemy, and serving at once for drain- 
age, custom-house purposes, and military defence; leaving eight en- 
trances or gates, over arches ; — each of which we found defended by a 
system of strong works, that seemed to require nothing but some 
men and guns to be impregnable. 

Outside, and within the cross-fires of those gates, we found, to the 
south, other obstacles but little less formidable. All the approaches 
near the city are over elevated causeways, cut in many places (to 
oppose us) and flanked on both sides by ditches, also of unusual 
dimensions. The numerous cross-roads are flanked in like manner, 
having bridges at the intersections, recently broken. The meadows 
thus checkered, are, moreover, in many spots, under water or 
marshy; for, it will be remembered, we were in the midst of the 
wet season, though with less rain than usual; and we could not wait 
for the fall of the neighboring lakes and the consequent drainage 
of the wet grounds at the edge of the city — the lowest in the whole 
basin. 

After a close personal survey of the southern gates, covered by 

* Note by the Committee. — The city ot Mexico. 



CHAPULTEPEC. 45 

Beport of General Scolt. 

Pillow's division and Riley's brigade of Twiggs's — with four times 
our numbers concentrated in our immediate front — I determined, on 
the 11th, to avoid that net-work of obstacles, and to seek, by a 
sudden inversion to the south-west and west, less unfavorable ap- 
proaches. 

To economize the lives of our gallant officers and men, as well as 
to insure success, it became indispensable that this resolution should 
be long masked from the enemy ; and again, that the new movement, 
when discovered, should be mistaken for a feint, and the old, as in- 
dicating our true and ultimate point of attack. 

Accordingly, on the spot, the 11th, I ordered Quitman's division 
from Coyoacan, to join Pillow, by daylight, before the southern 
gates, and then, that the two major-generals, with their divisions, 
should, hy night, proceed (two miles) to join me at Tacubaya, where 
I was quartered with Worth's division. Twiggs, with Riley's bri- 
gade and Captains Taylor's and Steptoe's field batteries — the latter of 
12-pounders — was left in front of those gates, to manoeuvre, to 
threaten, or to make false attacks, in order to occupy and deceive 
the enemy. Twiggs's other brigade (Smith's) was left at supporting 
distance in the rear, at San Angel, till the morning of the 13th, and 
also to support our general depot at Mixcoac. The stratagem against 
the south was admirably executed throughout the 12th, and down to 
the afternoon of the 13th, when it was too late for the enemy to re- 
cover from the effects of his delusion. 



The first step in the new movement was to carry Chapultepec, a 
natural and isolated mound, of great elevation, strongly fortified at 
its base, on its acclivities and heights. Besides a numerous garrison, 
here was the military college of the republic, with a large number of 
sub-lieutenants and other students. Those works were within direct 
gun-shot of the village of Tacubaya; and, until carried, we could not 
approach the city on the west without making a circuit too wide and 

too hazardous. 

******* 

The bombardment and cannonade, under the direction of Captain 
Huger, were commenced early in the morning of the 12th. Before 
nightfall, which necessarily stopped our batteries, we had perceived 
that a good impression had been made on the castle and its out- 
works, and that a large body of the enemy had remained outside, 
towards the city, from an early hour, to avoid our fire, and to be at 
hand on its cessation, in order to reinforce the garrison against an 
assault. The same outside force was discovered the next morning, 
after our batteries had reopened upon the castle, by which we again 
reduced its garrison to the minimum needed for the guns. 

Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early in the night 
of the lith. Major-General Worth was now ordered to hold his 
7 



46 CHAPULTEPEC. 

Report of General Scott. 

division in reserve, near the foundry, to support Pillow ; and Briga- 
dier-General Smith, of Twiggs's division, had just arrived, with his 
brigade, from Piedad, (two miles,) to support Quitman. Twiggs's 
guns, before the southern gates, again reminded us, as the day before, 
that he, with Riley's brigade and Taylor's and Steptoe's batteries, 
was in activity, threatening the southern gates, and there holding a 
great part of the Mexican army on the defensive. 

Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an assaulting 
party of some 250 volunteer officers and men, under Capt. McKenzie, 
of the 2d artillery; and Twiggs's division supplied a similar one, 
commanded by Captain Casey, 2d infantry, to Quitman. Each of 
those little columns was furnished with scaling ladders. 



The signal I had appointed for the attack was the momentary ces- 
sation of fire on the part of our heavy batteries. About 8 o'clock 
in the morning of the 13th, judging that the time had arrived, by the 
effect of the missiles we hati thrown, I sent an aid-de-camp to Pil- 
low, and another to Quitman, with notice that the concerted signal 
was about to be given. Both columns now advanced with an alac- 
rity that gave assurance of prompt success. The batteries, seizing 
opportunities, threw shots and shells upon the enemy over the heads 
of our men, with good effect, particularly at every attempt to rein- 
force the works from without to meet our assault. 

Major-General Pillow's approach on the west side, lay through an 
open grove, filled with sharp shooters, who were speedily dislodged; 
when, being up with the front of the attack, and emerging into open 
space, at the foot of a rocky acclivity, that gallant leader was struck 
down by an agonizing wound. The immediate command devolved 
on Brigadier-General Cadwalader,* in the absence of the senior bri- 
gadier (Pierce) of the same division — an invalid since the events of 
August 19. On a previous call of Pillow, Worth had just sent 
him a reinforcement — Col. Clark's brigade. 

The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a strong redoubt, 
midway, to be carried, before reaching the castle on the heights. 
The advance of our brave men, led by brave officers, though neces- 
sarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and 
under the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt now 
yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts that followed atmounced to 
the castle the fate that impended. The enemy were steadily driven 
from shelter to shelter. The retreat allowed not time to fire a single 
mine, without the certainty of blowing up friend and foe. Those 
who, at a distance, attempted to apply matches to the long trains, were 
shot down by our men. There was death below, as well as above 
ground. At length the ditch and wall of the main work were reached ; 

* Note by the Committee. — See page 52, and the note at foot of pp. 52-3, post. 



CTIAPULTEPF.C. 47 

Report of General Pillow. 

the scaling-ladders were brought up and planted bv ;jc storming par- 
ties; some of the daring spirits first in the assault were cast down — 
killed or wounded ; but a lodgment was soon made ; streams of 
heroes followed ; all opposition was overcome, and several of our 
regimental colors flung out from the upper walls, amidst long-con- 
tinued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay into the capital. No 
scene could have been more animating or glorious. 



[The report then relates the operations on the south-east side of 
the fortress; where "Major-General Quitman was nobly supported 
by Brigadier-Generals Shields and Smith."] 



Besides Major-Generals Pillow and Quitman, Brigadier-Generfd«; 
Shields, Smith and Cadwalader, the following are the officers a-i ' 
corps most distinguished in those brilliant operations. 



GENERAL PILLOW'S REPORT. 

Extracts from the Report by Major- General Pillow of the Storming cf 

Chapultepec. 

Head-quarters, 3d Division U. S. Army, 

Mexico, September 18, 1847. 

Captain: On the morning of the 12lh instant, at 3 o'clock, A. M., 
I moved with my command, consisting of the field battery of Cap- 
tain Magruder, the voltigeur regiment, the 9th, 11th, 14th and 15th 
regiments of infantry, (the 12th regiment constituting part of the gar- 
rison at Mixcoac,) and the mountain howitzer and rocket battery, 
from Tacubaya to the battle-field of the 8th instant, where my dispo- 
sitions were made to take possession of "Molino del Rey." Having 
organized a force for this purpose, under command of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Hebert, at daylight, his command moved steadily and in beau- 
tiful order, under a hot fire of shot and shell, from Chapultepec, and 
seized the mills, 

I ordered Brigadier-General Cadwalader, with his brigade, to 
hold possession of this position, and to defend the approaches (which 
unite at that place) from the city of Mexico and from Santa Fe. In 
a short time afterwards, an immense body of lancers, with a conside- 



48 CHAPULTEPF.C. 

Report of General Pillow. 

rable force of infautry, made their appearance in the valley above me, 
and moved steadi! / forward in the direction of my position, until 
almost within rea'..-h of my field-pieces. With Brigadier-General 
Pierce's brigade, Magruder's battery, and Major Sumner's fine com- 
mand of dragoons, (that officer having now reported to me for duty,) 
I made every arrangement for their reception. Having thus executed 
the orders of the general-in-chief, "to take possession of the mills, to 
hold ttic-m, and from this position defend the batteries intended to be 
o'^'^n'-d, preparatory to the assault upon Chapultepec and not to pro- 
ve le a general engagement with the enemy," I did not, under my 
orders, feel myself at liberty to become the assailant; and the enemy 
regarding prudence as " the better part of valor," did not think pro- 
per to assail me. 

At night, I drew my whole force down to the mills, immediately 
under the fire, and almost under the walls of Chapultepec ; while the 
enemy advanced from the valley and occupied the position I had held 
.luring the day, close in my rear. 

Being now almost completely enveloped by the enemy, with Cha- 

P' ltepec and its strong garrison immediately in my front, and the 

■ nemy's large force of lancers and infantry in close approximation to 

;ny rear and on my left flank, my command was compelled to lay on 

fs arm.s during the night. 

Early on the morning of the 13th, Captain McKenzie, 2d artillery, 
reported to me for duty, with a command of 260 rank and file from 
the 1st division. 

At daylight, the cannonade, which had ceased at dark on the pre- 
vious day, was resumed, and kept up on both sides until about 8 
o'clock. In the meantime, I was actively engaged in making the 
necessary preparations for storming Chapultepec. With this view, I 
had placed two pieces of Magruder's field-battery inside the extensive 
row of buildings (of which the mills were a part) to clear a sand-bag 
breast-work, which the enemy had constructed outside the main wall 
surrounding Chapultepec, and so as to command a breach in the wall. 
I had also passed the howitzer battery through the houses and walls 
of the mills, and placed it in battery, so as to aid me in driving the 
enemy from a strong entrenchment extending nearly across the front 
of the forest, and commanding my only approach to Chapultepec. 
While these batteries were admirably served under Captain Magruder 
and Lieutenant Reno, I placed four companies of the voltigeur regi- 
ment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel .Johnston, in posi- 
tion, with instructions, that, upon the cessation of the artillery fire, 
they should advance by a rapid movement on the outside, and under 
cover of the main wall, and to enter the enclosure at the breach. 
At the same time, I placed four other companies of voltigeurs, under 
command of Colonel Andrews, at a narrow gateway opening from the 
rear of the mills, with orders to advance in front, to unite with Colo- 
nel Johnston's command, to deploy as skirmishers, and, by a siraul- 



CHAPULTEPEC. 49 

Report of General Pillow. 

taneous movement upon the enemy's flank and f; out, to drive him 
from his entrenchments and the large trees behind which he had 
taken shelter. I had placed the 9th and 15th re<^i!nents of infantry 
in position, to advance, as close supports to the storiTiing force, and, 
if necessary, to form a part of it. 

I had ordered Colonel Andrews, as soon as the regiment of vol- 
tigeurs had cleared the entrenchments and woods, to form In rear of 
McKenzie's command, as a supporting or assaulting force, according 
to the exigencies of the moment. I placed Captain McKenzie's com- 
mand immediately in rear of Colonel Johnston's command of skif-- 
mishers, and directed it to move under the cover of the same wall, 
to enter the breach close after Johnston's command, and, as John- 
ston would brush away the enemy, it would advance steadily, as- 
sault, and carry the main work of Chapultepec. I had placed my 
scaling ladders in charge of this command, and furnished a strong 
detail of men to carry them forward to the parapet. 

I directed Lieutenant Reno to carry with the advancing column the 
mountain howitzer battery, and to use it whenever he could do so 
with effect. )• 

I had placed Colonel Trousdale, with the 1 1th and 14th regiraenti 
and one section of Magruder's battery under command of Lieutenan 
Jackson, on the road leading on the left of Chapultepec to the city, 
with instructions to advance on that road, to hold the enemy stationed 
at the battery on the road in observation, and to give him battle 
if he attempted to advance or succor the forces within the walls of 
Chapultepec. 



Having completed these dispositions for the assault, while a heavy 
cannonade was going on, Brigadier-General Cadwalader was di- 
rected* to see to the proper execution of my orders. 

All being now ready and eager for the conflict, I ordered the bat- 
teries of my division silenced, and the command to advance — the 
general-in-chief having silenced the heavy batteries. 

The voltigeurs having driven the enemy from the wood, rapidly 
pursued him until he retreated into the interior fortifications. Close 
in their rear, followed the 9lh and 15th regiments, with equal impetu- 
osity, until these three regiments occupied the exterior works around 
the summit of Chapultepec. 

Captain McKenzie's command had not yet come up. The 5th, 
6th, and 8th regiments of infantry of General Worth's division, 
ordered forward as a reserve, advanced to their positions and formed. 
As soon as Captain McKenzie's command was in position with the 
ladders, the work was almost instantly carried, and the Mexican flag 

* Note by the Committee. — See post, p. 52, and note to pp. 52-3, also ante, p. 46. 



50 CHAPULTEPF.C. 

Report of General Pillow. 

torn from the cas.Me by the gallant Major Seyraour, of the 9th regi- 
ment, and the Amt'cican run up in its place. 

To the vojtigeu' 'giment belongs the honor of having first planted 
its colors upon tl^L jjarapet. The color-bearer of the regiment having 
been shot dovvn, the color was immediately seized by the gallant and 
fearless Captain Barnard, who scaled the parapet and unfurled the 
flag, under a terrible fire, from which he received two wounds. 

The chief honor of this brilliant victory is due to those gallant 
corps, the voltigeurs, the 9th and 15th regiments of infantry, who 
dro^'e the enemy from his exterior entrenchments and positions, took 
possession of and enveloped the crest of the counterscarp, and held 
this position under a heavy fire of grape, canister, and round shot 
from the enemy's artillery, (11 pieces in number,) and a very supe- 
rior force of small arms, until the arrival of the ladders; and to Cap- 
tain McKenzie's command, who brought up the ladders, and, with 
the corps already mentioned, so gallantly stormed and carried the 
■>,'An works. 



I was ably sustained and assisted during the day by Brigadier- 
. 'neral Cadwalader, whose activity, courage, and high military 
taients have already distinguished him on other fields, but upon none 
more than this. I take pleasure in testifying my high sense of ob- 
ligation to him, and to his chivalric adjutant-general, Capt. George 
Deas. 



We took about 800 prisoners, among whom were Major-General 
Bravo, Brigadier-Generals Monterde, Nonega, Doramentes, and 
Saldana ; also, 3 colonels, 7 lieutenant-colonels, 40 captains, 24 first, 

and 27 second lieutenants. 

******* 

I have General Bravo's own account of the strength of his com- 
mand, given me only a few minutes after he was taken prisoner. 
He communicated to me, through Passed Midshipman Rogers, that 
there were upwards of 6,000 men in the works and surrounding 
grounds. The killed, wounded and prisoners, agreeably to the best 
estimate I can form, were about 1,800, and immense numbers of the 
enemy were seen to escape over the wall on the north and west side 
of Chapultepec. 



My own force actually engaged in storming the work did not ex- 
ceed 1,000 men. 



CHAPULTEPEC. 51 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL CADWALADER. 

Head-quarters, 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 

City of Mexico^ September 18, 1847. 

Sir: — In compliance with orders from division head-quarters, I 
have the honor to report the operations of my command on the 12th, 
l3th and 14th instant, in the attack upon Chapultepec, and the sub- 
sequent advance upon the city of Mexico. 

Before daylight, on the morning of the 12th instant, I marched 
from Tacubaya, to the west side of the fortress of Chapultepec, and 
formed my command, with the other brigade of this division, upon 
the plain, for the purpose of attacking and occupying Molino del Rey, 
preparatory to the attack upon Chapultepec 

At daylight, two companies of the regiment of voltigeurs, under 
the command of Captain James D. Blair, and M. J. Barnard, were 
advanced, and extended, as they approached Molino del Rey, sup- 
ported by four companies of the 14th regiment, the whole under the 
command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. 0. Hebert, who occupied and held 
the position, (you having previously reconnoitred the north side of the 
enemy's position,) and passed down the whole front before Molino 
del Rey, to draw the fire of the enemy, and ascertain his strength 
and position as the troops advanced. Our siege guns kept up a fire 
upon Chapultepec during the day. The remainder of my command, 
with other troops, remained upon the plain, to hold in check large 
forces of the enemy, (principally cavalry,) which threatened our flank 
and rear. 

On the morning of the 13th instant, after the fire of the siege guns 
had ceased, by direction of Major-General Pillow, the mountain 
howitzer battery, under the command of Lieutenant Reno, attached 
to the regiment of voltigeurs, opened a fire upon the enemy posted 
behind some iield-works, on the north side of the wood, to the west- 
ward and near the foot of Chapultepec, commanding the meadow 
over which our troops were to approach. 

The fire of the battery was very eflfective, although much exposed 
to the fire of small arms from the enemy, and from shells from the 
heavy guns from the fort, which exploded among them, doing some 
injury also to the 9th and 15th regiments, drawn up in rear of the 
wall, and awaiting the moment to commence the assault. 

To cover the advance of the storming party, under Captain Mac- 
kenzie, after the howitzer battery had cleared the space in front, four 
companies of the regiment of voltigeurs, under Colonel Andrews, 
moved forward, and drove the enemy from the corn-fields, meadows, 
and woods, on the west side of Chapultepec At the same moment, 
four companies of the same regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel John- 
ston, advanced from Molino del Rey, under cover of the south wall, 
under a brisk fire from the lunette, covering the breach, by which 



52 



CHAPULTEPEC. 



Report of General Cadwalader. 

they were to pass the wall, driving the enemy from the parapet, 
following him through the gorge, and driving him from the woods 
and hill-side, into the works, and carrying the two outworks on their 
right. Here they were joined by Lieutenant Reno, with two of the 
mountain howitzers, and by the other wing of the same regiment. 

The 9th regiment, under Colonel Ransom, and the 15th regiment, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Howard, which had been ordered 
to support the movement, pressed forward. 

Major-General Pillow having been wounded at the foot of the 
hill,* by his direction, I went forward with the attacking forces, upon 
the west flank of the hill. 



I regret extremely to say, that, whilst in the act of heroically lead- 
ing his regiment up the heights of Chapultepec, Colonel Truman B. 
Ransom, the gallant and efficient commander of the 9th regiment, 
was killed by a ball which penetrated his brain, the command of the 
regiment devolving upon Major Thomas H. Seymour, 

The troops experienced some delay upon the heights, for want of 
the scaling ladders ; and I detached men from the advancing com- 
mands to brino; them forward. 



* Note by the Committee. — Extracts from 
the report of Lieutenant - Colonel 
Howard, commanding the 15th regi- 
ment. " At this point, General Pil- 
•' low received a wound, which disabled 
" him; and rendered it impossible for 
"him further to lead the charge; but, 
" receiving his personal order to that ef- 
" feet, we continued the charge up the 
a hill." * * * * 

***** 

'' The colors of the regiment were 
'' waving from the top of the castle in 
"less than thirty minutes from the time 
" the order was given by General Pillow, 
" at the base of the hill, for the regiment 
" to ascend." Major Seymour, com- 
manding the 9lh infantry, reported, that 
the castle was '' carried by storm, about 
" half an hour from the commencement of 
" the action. 

General Pillow, in an official com- 
munication lately printed in the New 
Orleans Picayune, states, that he was 



wholly disabled from duty by this 
wound. From the time that General 
Pillow received it, Brigadier-General 
Cadwalader appears to have led the 3d 
division of the army, until after the storm- 
ing and surrender of the fortress, when 
General Pillow, though suffering severe 
pain from his wound, was carried for- 
ward to the top of the hill. Brigadier- 
General Pierce, the second officer in 
rank of the division, in his report, re- 
ferring to the evening of the 12th of 
Sepember, writes: — " I was compelled 
" to leave the field, in consequence of 
" severe indisposition, which confined 
" me to my bed during the 13th, and, 
"■ of course, deprived me of the satis- 
" faction of participating with my bri- 
" gade in the glorious achievements of 
"that day. The regiments composing 
" my command, having acted under the 
"' immediate orders of the general com- 
" manding the division, and Brigadier- 
" General Cadwalader, 1 would re- 



CHAPULTEPEC. 53 

General Cadwalader's Report. 

The 6th and 8th infantry, and the New York volunteer??, at this 
time moved forward, and pressed closely upon the rear of the regi- 
ments already named. 

The detachments of the voltigeur regiment, under Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Johnston, and two pieces of the mountain howitzer battery, under 
Lieutenant Reno, had previously advanced, passing round to the right, 
to the main gate, to attack at that point, and prevent the escape of 
the garrison, where they encountered a warm fire from the parapet of 
the east terrace, and the battery at its base, which works were soon 
reduced — Lieutenant Reno and his guns being again very efficient. 
I regret to add, that he was severely wounded, at the gateway, after 
having rendered very important services. 



The moment the ladders were in position, all pressed forward, and 
the fortress was taken by storm, amid the loud cheers of our energetic 
and gallant troops. 



Second Lieutenant Charles B. Brower, of the New York volunteers,* 
brought General Bravo, the commander of the enemy's forces, to me, 
who surrendered to me his sword ; and I left him, under a suitable 
guard, as a prisoner of war. 



The Mexican flag, which floated over the fortress, and which had 
been previously three times shot down by our artillery, was hauled 

" spectfully refer you to the reports of pears to have retained the command 

''the latter officer, and those of the com- of the 3d division, until after the close 

" manders of the above-named regi- of the active operations of the campaign. 

" ments, for an account of their opera- * Note by the Committee. — After Gene- 

" tionsofthe 13lh." (See General Scott's ral Cadwalader had thus received the 

Keport, ante, p. 46.) The report of sword of General Bravo, his surrender 

General Pierce further states, that he was reported by Lieutenant Brower to 

returned to the field on the 14th, vphen Major-General Quitman, of whose di- 

he was detached from the 3d division, vision the New York regiment was a 

and was concerned, with a portion of part. General Quitman commends this 

his brigade, in the operations under regiment as the first corps of his division, 

Major-General Quitman, at the Garita who, from its side of the hill, planted a 

Belen, where he remained until after standard on the battlements. " Side by 

the surrender of the city, when, having "side," he writes, "the rival colors of 

" received orders from head-quarters to " the two commands struggled up the 

" that effect, he withdrew his command " steep ascent, entered the fortress, and 

" for the purpose of garrisoning the " reached the buildings * * * which 

"towns of Mixcoac and Tacubaya." "crowned its summit." 
Brigadier-General Cadwalader ap- 



54 CHAPULTEPEC. 

General Cadwalader^s Report. 

down, and handed to me, by Major Thomas H, Seymour, of the 9th 
regiment. I have the honor to send the flag herewith. 

A train, or hose, leading to mines intended to blow up our forces, 
in case we should succeed in the capture of the work, was discovered, 
and destroyed. Private William A. Gray, of Captain Blair's com- 
pany of voltigeurs, first discovered, and assisted to destroy it. 

Previously to the commencement of the attack upon Chapultepec, 
the 14th infantry, five companies of the 11th infantry, and a section 
of Captain Magruder's battery, were placed, by order of Major-Gene- 
ral Pillow, under the command of Colonel Trousdale, at the northwest 
corner of the buildings adjacent to Chapultepec, occupied by our 
troops, in observation of a cavalry force of the enemy in our rear, 
and with orders to attack any retreating force, dislodged from Cha- 
pultepec, by the road to the north. 

Colonel Trousdale subsequently advanced from this position, with 
the 14th regiment and the section of the field battery; and soon en- 
countered a heavy and destructive fire from a battery of two guns in 
a work across the road to the north of Chapultepec, at which time he 
received a severe wound, from two balls, in his right arm. Colonel 
Trousdale, however, remained with his command, until he succeeded 
in carrying the battery and guns of the enemy, and then turned over 
the command to lieutenant-Colonel Hebert. I refer you to his sepa- 
rate report in regard to the detachment under his command. 



[This report of Brigadier-General Cadwalader is continued, without omission, 
on the next page, under the head of San Cosme Gate. The committee, in 
order to carry into effect the resolution of the company, are obliged thus to 
divide it at the conclusion of the storming and surrender of Chapultepec] 



SAN COSME GATE. 



By way of introduction to the documents which follow, the Committee insert 
the following additional extract from General Scott's Reportj No. 34. 



"There are two routes from Chapiiltepec to the capital — the one 
on the right entering (he same gate, Belen, with the road from the 
south, via Piedacl ; and the other obliquing to the left to intersect the 
great western, or San Cosme road, in a suburb outside of the Gate 
OF San Cosme. 

Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents a double road- 
way on the sides of an aqueduct of strong masonry, and great height, 
resting on open arches and massive pillars, which, together, afford 
fine points both for attack and defence. The sideways of both aque- 
ducts are, moreover, defended by many strong breastworks at the 
gates, and before reaching them. As we had expected, we found 
the four tracks unusually dry and solid for the season. 

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the retreating 
enemy — the former by the San Cosme aqueduct, and the latter along 
that of Belen." 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL CAD- 
WALADER. 



This is the remaining part of the dispatch of which the previous portions are 
contained in the last four pages. What follows is in direct continuation from 
ihe point at which it was suspended on page 54. 



The division commanded by Major-General Worth, after the cap- 
ture of Chapultepec, pushed forward after the enemy in retreat to the 



56 SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 

Report of General Cadwalader. 

city by the San Cosme road. A party of the 14th infantry, under 
the coraraand of Captain Glenn, with Lieutenants Blackburn, Davis 
and Isaacs, that had become detached from their regiments in pursuit 
of the enemy, joined, and acted with, the command of General Worth, 
in its advance, and capture of the battery and garita of San Cosme. 
Major-General Quitman moved forward with his division upon the 
road to the city, by the garita de Belen, and the 9th regiment was 
ordered forward to unite with his command. 



After making some hasty arrangements in regard to securing the 
prisoners in the fortress,* and placing the necessary guards to se- 
cure the captured ammunition, I received orders to march with the 
regiment of voltigeurs and the howitzer battery, (to the command of 
which Captain Edwards was assigned, after Lieutenant Reno was 
wounded,) and the 11th and the 14th infantry, upon the arrival of 
the siege train from Tacubaya, under Captain Huger, in support of 
General Worth's division, upon the San Cosme road. 

The 15th regiment was left to garrison Chapultepec. I moved 
forward, with the voltigeurand 11th regiments, and the howitzer bat- 
tery, leaving the 14th regiment to bring on the siege train as soon as 
it arrived.! 



On our arrival at the intersection of the road from Chapultepec 
with the San Cosme road, I was ordered by General Worth to occupy 
a fort to the left, upon that road, his division being engaged with the 
enemy's forces in front, a portion of which had moved round, and 
were "threatening that flank. I ordered forward the regiment of vol- 
tigeurs for that purpose ; and, observing an advanced position suita- 
ble for a picket, I directed one gun from the howitzer battery, and 
Captain Biddle's company of voltigeurs, to move forward and oc- 
cupy it. Lieutenant Isaac J. Stephens, of the engineers, rode for- 
ward with me to examine the work, and I regret to say that, under a 
heavy fire from a parly of the enemy, he was wounded severely. 

The fire from Captain Biddle's company, and a few discharges from 
the howitzer, soon drove back the enemy. 

I subsequently sent forward the regiment of voltigeurs, by direc- 
tion of General Worth, and also five of the guns of the howitzer 
battery, under Captain Edwards, which did good service from the 

* Note by the Committee. — Chapul- into which the regiment had been di- 

tepec. vided, " were united, and proceeded 

■j- j^ote. — Col. Andrews, of the volti- under General Cadwalader's orders and 

aeurs, reports that '■ after the successful personal direction, on the San Cosme 

storming of the castle, and the prison- road, in pursuit of the flying enemy to 

ers were secured, the two battalions" this city.'' 



SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 57 

Report of General Cadwalacler. 

tops of the houses. The 11th regiment occupied the fort on the left, 
and a small detachment of the marine corps, under Captain Terrett, 
that had followed in pursuit of the enemy, occupied the position held 
by Captain Biddle, who proceeded with his regiment. 

It is proper that I should mention here that the battalion of the 
marine corps had marched upon the route taken by General Quitman, 
after his detachment had moved forward upon the San Cosme road 
in pursuit of the retreating forces of the enemy, and, in this manner, 
became separated from the rest of their command. 

The 14th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hebert, which had 
arrived, with the siege train, under Captain Huger, remained to 
support it. The garita of San Cosme, and the garita de Belen, two 
principal points of entrance into the city, having been gained by our 
troops, and night coming on, we remained, content with our position 
and the glorious result of the works of the day. 

On the 14th, our troops moved forward, and occupied the principal 
positions throughout the city, the enemy having been entirely routed. 
The voltigeur regiment, and the howitzer battery, remaining with the 
command of General Worth. 



For many particulars which I cannot introduce into this report,* I 
refer to the separate reports of the commanding officers of regiments, 
herewith enclosed. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, of the regiment of voltigeurs, was 
highly efficient in the responsible and important command assigned 
to him, receiving a slight wound on the occasion. Major Caldwell, 
on duty with the other wing of the regiment, was also much distin- 
guished. Colonel Andrews speaks in high terms in his report of 
these officers, as well as of Captains Biddle, Blair, Barnard, Lieute- 
nants Fry, Kinlzing, Walker, Terrett, Tillton, Martin, and of Ser- 
geants Herbert and Elliott. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston also notices 
in his report that Captains Edwards, Howard, and Archer, and Lieu- 
tenant Forsyth, led their companies gallantly, and were seconded 
with spirit, by their Lieutenants, Earned, Cross, Swan, Kiger, and 
Cochrane, and Sergeant Togler. 

Lieutenant Reno, of the howitzer battery, already mentioned, is 
justly spoken of in high terms, and also Sergeants Peate, Depew, 
and McGuire. 

Sergeant Peate was badly wounded ; and, I regret to say, has lost 
a leg in consequence of it. 

* Note by the Committee. — The rest of surrender. The division of the report 
the report refers to Chapultepec as well on pp. 54-5, renders this observation 
as to the operations which followed its necessary. 



58 SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 

Report of General Cadwalader. 

Major Thomas H. Seymour, of the 9th infantry, was hirase]f very 
active in the discharge of his duties. He mentions, in his report, 
1st Lieutenant and Adjutant Charles J. Sprague, Lieutenant Fitz- 
gerald, Captain Pitman, Captains N. L. Webb and E. A. Kimball, 
Lieutenants George Bower, Albert Tracy, John H. Jackson, John S. 
Slocum, and Levi Woodhouse, commanding companies; also Lieu- 
tenants Richard C. Drum, Asa A. Stoddard, John Glackin, Thomas 
P. Pierce, Thompson H. Crosby, Sergeant-Major Fairbanks, (the 
orderly of Colonel Ransom,) G. McGuiger, Sergeants White, Bil- 
lings, E. F. Pike, Miller, Clarke, Barton, and Stone. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, in command of the 15th regiment, in 
consequence of the absence of Colonel Morgan, who had not reco- 
vered from the wound which he received at Churubusco, mentions 
the efficient services of Major Samuel Wood, Captains Chase and 
Hoagland, Lieutenants Bowie, Freelove, Miller, Marshall, and Sut- 
ton, commanding companies; 2d Lieutenants Becket, Beach, Ben- 
nett, Titus, French, and Peternell, and 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant 
T. F. Broadhead. Dr. James B. Slade, the surgeon of the regiment, 
is highly spoken of by the commanding officer, and was particularly 
noticed for the valuable services rendered by him. Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Howard also recommends Sergeant Jonathan W. Jones, of the 
color guard, Sergeant-Major Thomas J. McKean, 1st Sergeant Samuel 
Ross, 1st Sergeant Fortunatus Lilly, as highly meritorious, and well 
qualified for promotion. 

I desire particularly to report, for the information of the major 
general, that, atler he was wounded, you continued with the advanced 
portion of the comniand, rendering most important services through- 
out the assault upon Chapultepec, and that subsequently you, as well 
as Lieutenant Ripley, his aid-de-camp, joined me, and continued 
with me, upon the San Cosme road. 

I was on this occasion again indebted to Captain George Deas, 
assistant adjutant-general to my brigade, for valuable assistance and 
services. 

I enclose a list of the killed, wounded, and missing. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

' ' GEO. CADWALADER, 

Brigadier- General U. S. Army, commanding. 

To Captain J. Hooker, 

ji. Ji. General, 3rf Division. 



SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 59 



GENERAL WORTH'S REPORT. 



Extract from Major-General Worth^s Report, dated Head-quarters, 
1st Division, City of Mexico, Sept. 16, 1847. 



The general-in-chief**** instructed me to press on, carry the garita 
San Cosme, and, if possible, penetrate to the Alameda. Shortly after 
Brigadier-General Cadwalader reported to me, by the order of the 
general-in-chief ; and, later, between 8 and 9 P. M., Col. Riley, with 
the second brigade, 2d division. The former was left in position at 
the Campo Santo, to hold that point, and look to the left and rear. 
The latter, coming up after the firing had ceased, was halted in rear 
of the 1st division, and entered the city, with it, on the morning of 
the 14th. 

Here we came in front of another battery, beyond which, distant 
some two hundred and fifty yards, and sustaining it, was the last de- 
fence, or the garita of San Cosme. The approach to these two de- 
fences was in a right line, and the whole space was literally swept by 
grape, canister, and shells, from a heavy gun and howitzer; added 
to which, severe fires of musketry were delivered from the tops of the 
adjacent houses and churches. It hence became necessary to vary 
our mode of operations. Garland's brigade was thrown to the right, 
within and masked by the aqueduct, and instructed to dislodge the 
enemy from the buildings in his front, and endeavor to reach and turn 
the left of the garita, taking advantage of such cover as might offer, 
to enable him to effect these objects. Clark's brigade was, at the 
same time, ordered to take the buildings on the left of the road, and, 
by the use of bars and picks, burrow through from house to house, 
and, in like manner, carry the right of the garita. While these orders 
were being executed, a mountain howitzer was placed on the top of 
a commanding building on the left, and another on the church of San 
Cosme on the right, both of which opened with admirable eflTect. 
The work of the "troops was tedious, and necessarily slow, but was 
greatly favored by the fire of the howitzers. Finally, at 5 o'clock, 
both columns had reached their positions, and it then became neces- 
sary, at all hazards, to advance a piece of artillery to the evacuated 
battery of the enemy, intermediate between us and the garita. Lieut. 



60 SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 

Report of General Worlh. 

Hunt was ordered to execute this duty, which he did in the highest 
possible style of gallantry, equally sustained by his veteran troops, 
with the loss of one killed and four wounded, out of nine men, al- 
though the piece moved at full speed over a distance of only one 
hundred and fifty yards; reaching the breastwork, he became muzzle 
to muzzle with the enemy. It has never been my fortune to witness 
a more brilliant exhibition of courage and conduct. The moment 
had now arrived for the final and combined attack upon the last strong- 
hold of the enemy in my quarter. It was made, by our men springing, 
as if by magic, to the tops of the houses into which they had patiently 
and quietly made their way with the bar and pick, and to the utter 
surprise and consternation of the enemy, opening upon him, within 
easy range, a destructive fire of musketry. A single discharge, in 
which many of his gunners were killed at their pieces, was sufficient 
to drive him in confusion from the breastworks ; when a prolonged 
shout from our brave fellows announced that we were in possession 
of the garita of San Cosme, and already in the city of Mexico. 



GENERAL SCOTT'S REPORT. 



[The Committee conchide this collection with the following additional extracts 
from General Scott's Report, No. 34, of which extracts have been given on 
pp. 44 to 47 and 54.] 



Deeming it all-important to profit by our successes, and the con- 
sequent dismay of the enemy, which could not be otherwise than 
general, I hastened to dispatch, from Chapultepec — first Clarke's 
brigade, and then Cadwalader's, to the support of Worth, and gave 
orders that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's bri- 
gade was, at the same titne, sent to Quitman, and in the course of 
the afternoon, I caused some additional siege pieces to be added to 
his train. Then, after designating the 15th infantry, under Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Howard — Morgan, the colonel, had been disabled 
by a wound at Churubusco — as the garrison of Chapultepec, and 
giving directions for the care of the prisoners of war, the captured 
ordnance and ordnance stores, I proceeded to join the advance of 
Worth, within the suburb and beyond the turn at the junction of 



SAN COSME GATE CITY OF MEXICO. 61 

Report of General Scott. 

the aqueduct with the great highway from the west to the gate of 
San Cosme. 

At this junction of roads, we first passed one of those formidable 
systems of city defences, spoken of above ; and it had not a gun ! — 
a strong proof — 1, that the enemy had expected us to fail in the 
attack upon Chapultepec, even if we meant anything more than a 
feint; 2, that in either case, we designed, in his belief, to return 
and double our forces against the southern gates, a delusion kept up 
by the active demonstrations of Twiggs and the forces posted on 
that side ; and 3, that advancing rapidly from the reduction of 
Chapultepec, the enemy had not time to shift guns — our previous 
captures had left him, comparatively, but few — from the southern 
gates. 

Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops engaged in 
a street fight against the enemy posted in gardens, at windows and 
on house-tops — all flat, with parapets. Worth ordered forward the 
mountain howitzers of Cadwalader's brigade, preceded by skir- 
mishers and pioneers, with pick-axes and crow-bars, to force win- 
dows and doors, or to burrow through walls. The assailants were 
soon in an equality of position fatal to the enemy. By 8 o'clock in 
the evening, Worth had carried two batteries in this suburb. Ac- 
cording to my instructions, he here posted guards and sentinels, and 
placed his troops under shelter for the night. There was but one 
more obstacle — the San Cosme gate (custom-house) between him 
and the great square in front of the cathedral and palace — the heart 
of the city; and that barrier, it was known, could not, by daylight, 
resist our siege guns thirty minutes.* 

* Note by the Committee. — In January, a advanced to a church, * * * more 
1848, General Scott forwarded to the u than half-way from the gate San Cos- 
war department a communication from «ME to the Alameda; the other, and 
General Worth, containing observations « Riley's brigade, quartered, for conve- 
by General Worth on this part of Ge- " nience, at and by the gate." Having 
neral Scott's report. General Worth thus mentioned the " night position of 
observes, ^r5(, that it was not in the sub- his troops," General Worth adds, " By 
urbs (meaning obviously that it was in " 8 o'clock, the heavy guns, a mortar, 
the city, see ante, page 60,) that his com- " and 24 pounder, were got up from the 
mand was quartered for the night. He '< far rear, and before 9, opened upon 
adds, "2d, that before 6 o'clock, my "the great plaza; said guns being in 
"command had carried the gate (or "battery at the San Cosme Gate, the 
"custom-house) of San Cosme, captur- " firing of which brought out" the Com- 
" ed the cannon which defended it, and missioners, who endeavored to negotiate 
" turned them upon the flying enemy, terms for the surrender of the city, 
"3d, that one of my brigades quartered, and who were passed, in charge of a 
" that night, several hundred yards staff officer, to the general-in-chief, at 
"within the gate, and my head-quarters Tacubaya. General Worth also objects 
" with it, the pickets and patrols being to the position given to his troops in a 
9 



62 SAN COSME GATE — CITY OF MEXICO. 

Report of General Scott. 



[After a detail of the successful progress of General Quitman's division at the 
Belen or south-eastern gate of the city, the report of the General-in-chief 
proceeds as follows ] 



At about 4 o'clock next morning, (September 14,) a deputation of 
the ayuntamiento (city council) waited upon me to report that the 
federal government and the army of Mexico had fled from the capital, 
some three hours before, and to demand terms of capitulation in 
favor of the church, the citizens, and the municipal authorities. I 
promptly replied, that I would sign no capitulation; that the city had 
been virtually in our possession from the time of the lodgments ef- 
fected by Worth and Quitman the day before ; that I regretted the 
silent escape of the Mexican army; that I should levy upon the city 
a moderate contribution, for special purposes; and that the American 
army should come under no terms, not se//'-imposed — such only as 
its own honor, the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the 
age, should, in my opinion, imperiously demand and impose. 

For the terms, so imposed, I refer the department to subsequent 
general orders, Nos. 287 and 289, (paragraphs 7, 8, and 9, of the 
latter,) copies of which are herewith enclosed. 

At the termination of the interview with the city deputation, I 
communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth and Quitman to ad- 
vance slowly and cautiously (to guard against treachery) towards the 
heart of the city, and to occupy its stronger and more commanding 
points. Quitman proceeded to the great jo/flca or square, planted 
guards, and hoisted the colors of the United States on the national 
palace — containing the halls of Congress and executive apartments 
of federal Mexico. In this grateful service, Quitman might have 
been anticipated by Worth but for my express orders, halting the latter 
at the head of the Alameda^ (a green park,) within three squares of that 

diagram of the field, to which reference " tery carried by the division, and I 

had been made in the report of the ge- " gave the division credit for having 

neral-in-chief " passed too." As the extracts from 

General Scott, in transmitting this General Worth's report, inserted on 

communication, endorsed upon it a me- pages 59, 60, do not include his relation 

morandum, in which he observed that of the occurrences subsequent to his 

he had committed an error in his report, first entrance at the Gate of San Cosme, 

in stating that the gate of San Cosme in the afternoon, the Committee think 

was not passed by Worth's division in the insertion of this note necessary, in 

the evening of the 13th of September; connection with the portion of General 

adding, "That gate was the second bat- Scott's report to which it applies. 



SAN COSME GATE — CITY OF MEXICO. 63 

Report of General Scott. 

goal of general ambition. The capital, however, was not taken by 
any one or two corps, but by the talent, the science, the gallantry, 
the prowess of this entire army. In the glorious conquest, all had 
contributed — early and powerfully — the killed, the wounded, and the 
Jit for duty — at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, San Anto- 
nio, Churubusco, (three battles,) the Molinos del Rey, and Chapul- 
TEPEC — as much as those who fought at the gates of Belen and San 

CoSME. 

Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of occupying the 
city, a fire was opened upon us from the flat roofs of the houses, from 
windows and corners of streets, by some two thousand convicts libe- 
rated the night before by the flying government — joined by, perhaps 
as many, Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded themselves and thrown 
ofT their uniforms. This unlawful war lasted more than twenty-four 
hours, in spite of the exertions of the municipal authorities, and was 
not put down till we had lost many men, including several officers, 
killed or wounded, and had punished the miscreants. Their objects 
were, to gratify national hatred ; and in the general alarm and con- 
fusion, to plunder the wealthy inhabitants — particularly the deserted 
houses. But families are now generally returning; business of every 
kind has been resumed; and the city is already tranquil and cheerful, 
under the admirable conduct (with exceptions very few and trifling) 
of our gallant troops. 



[The Committee have in a previous page (p. 7) inserted General Scott's reca- 
pitulation of the occurrences of August and September, 1847.] 



c-^ 



r^s/^ 



I 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




mm 
liil 







liiiii 



